As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2016.
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
TRUE DRINKS HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Nevada
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2086
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84-1575085
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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18662 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 110
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 203-3500
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Kevin Sherman
Interim Chief Executive Officer
18662 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 110
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 203-3500
(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy of correspondence to:
Daniel W. Rumsey, Esq.
Jessica R. Sudweeks, Esq.
Disclosure Law Group
One American Plaza
600 West Broadway, Suite 700
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 795-1134
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public)
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company
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[X]
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(do not check if a smaller reporting company)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered (1)
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Amount to be Registered (2)
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Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price (3)
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Amount of
Registration
Fee (3)(4)
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Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
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44,863,395
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$
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7,537,050.36
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$
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758.98
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(1)
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Consists of up to (i) 20,589,333 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred”) issued in a series of private placement transactions, first consummated on August 13, 2015 (the “Private Placements”); (ii) 6,479,324 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants issued in connection with the Private Placements; (iii) up to 17,500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant issued to Mr. Vincent C. Smith in connection with the execution of a personal guaranty; and (iv) up to 294,737 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant issued to Novelty Capital Group LLC, as consideration for certain advisory services related to investor relations.
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(2)
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In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction involving the common stock of the Registrant, in order to prevent dilution, the number of shares registered shall be automatically increased to cover additional shares in accordance with Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”).
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(3)
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Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act.
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The Selling Stockholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
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PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
(Subject to Completion)
Dated ____________, 2016
44,863,395 Shares of Common Stock
TRUE DRINKS HOLDINGS, INC.
We are registering 44,863,395 shares of our common stock, $0.001 per share, of True Drinks Holdings, Inc. (“we,” “us,” or the “Company”), by selling stockholders listed beginning on page 42 of this prospectus (“Selling Stockholders”). All of the shares being offered, when sold, will be sold by the Selling Stockholders. The shares of common stock registered for resale under this registration statement include:
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up to 20,589,333 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred”) issued in a series of private placement transactions, first consummated on August 13, 2015 (the “Private Placements”);
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up to 6,479,324 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants issued in connection with the Private Placements (the “Warrants”);
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up to 17,500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant issued to Mr. Vincent C. Smith in connection with the execution of a personal guaranty (the “Personal Guaranty Warrant”); and
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up to 294,737 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant issued to Novelty Capital Group LLC, as consideration for certain investment relations services provided to the Company (the “Novelty Warrant”).
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We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the Selling Stockholders; however, if the warrants are exercised we will receive the exercise price of the warrants, if exercised at all. We will pay the expenses of registering the shares sold by the Selling Stockholders. See “Selling Stockholders” beginning on page 42 of this prospectus for a list of the Selling Stockholders.
The shares of common stock are being registered to permit the Selling Stockholders to sell the shares from time to time, in amounts and at prices and on terms determined at the time of the offering. The Selling Stockholders may sell the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus in a number of different ways, and at prevailing market prices or privately negotiated transactions. We provide more information about how the Selling Stockholders may sell the shares in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 44 of this prospectus.
Our common stock is quoted on the OTC Pink Marketplace under the symbol “TRUU.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on February 12, 2016 was $0.18 per share.
No underwriter or other person has been engaged to facilitate the sale of shares of common stock in this offering.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the Selling Stockholders have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. If anyone provides you with different information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the Selling Stockholders are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is _________ __, 2016.
TRUE DRINKS HOLDINGS, INC.
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F-1
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference, contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of any statements containing the words “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “should” or similar expressions are intended to identify such statement. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, changes in demand for our products and services, changes in the level of operating expenses, our ability to execute our business and operating plan, changes in general economic conditions that impact government spending, regulatory issues, dependence on third party suppliers, and other risks detailed in this prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors” and in our periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may not meet the safe harbor for forward-looking statements pursuant to Sections 21E or 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all the information you should consider before buying our common stock. You should read the following summary together with the more detailed information appearing in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes, and our risk factors beginning on page 5, before deciding whether to purchase shares of our common stock.
As used in this prospectus, “we”, “us”, “our”, “True Drinks”, “Company” or “our Company” refers to True Drinks Holdings, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. We are a holding company and conduct no operating business, except through our subsidiaries.
Overview
True Drinks Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”, “us” or “we”) was incorporated in the state of Nevada in January 2001 and is the holding company for True Drinks, Inc. (“True Drinks”), a beverage company incorporated in the state of Delaware in January 2012 that specializes in all-natural, vitamin-enhanced drinks. Our primary business is the development, marketing, sale and distribution of our flagship product, AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water, a vitamin-enhanced, naturally flavored water drink packaged in our patented stacking spherical bottles. We distribute the AquaBall(TM) nationally through select retail channels, such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, drug stores and online. We also market and distribute Bazi(R) All Natural Energy, a liquid nutritional supplement drink, which is currently distributed online and through our existing database of customers.
Our principal place of business is 18662 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 110, Irvine, California, 92612. Our telephone number is (949) 203-2500. Our corporate website address is http://www.truedrinks.com. Our common stock is currently listed for quotation on the OTC Pink Marketplace under the symbol TRUU.
Securities Offered by the Selling Stockholders
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44,863,395 shares of common stock
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Common stock Outstanding as of February 12, 2016
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112,049,107 shares
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Use of Proceeds
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We will not receive any of the proceeds of the shares offered by the Selling Stockholders. We may receive proceeds upon exercise of the warrants, if they are exercised. The shares that will be resold under this prospectus were sold by us, or were issued upon the conversion of securities issued by us.
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Risk Factors
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Prior to making an investment decision, you should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus and, in particular, you should evaluate the risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5.
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Risks Related to the Company
We have a history of operating losses and, despite consummation of recent financings, we require additional financing to satisfy our current contractual obligations and execute our business plan.
We have not been profitable since inception. We had a net loss of $6,824,004 and $8,116,603 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and the year ending December 31, 2014, respectively. Additionally, sales of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water are significantly below levels necessary to achieve positive cash flow.
Although we have recently consummated equity and debt financings that have resulted in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $12.7 million, our cash position was approximately $92,032 at September 30, 2015, and we used $7,427,348 and $6,649,706 of cash for operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and during the year ended December 31, 2014, respectively. To continue as a going concern, and to satisfy our contractual obligations under the bottling agreement we entered into with Niagara Bottling, LLC (“Niagara”) in October 2015 (the “Niagara Agreement”), we need to secure proceeds from the sale of additional debt or equity securities, whether in a private or public offering, in the near term. No assurances can be given that we will be successful in our attempts to generate proceeds to fund our operations. In the event we are unable to raise additional capital through the issuance of additional debt or equity securities, we will be unable to continue as a going concern.
We face substantial uncertainties in executing our business plan.
We must attain certain objectives in order to successfully execute our business plan over, including certain sales and distribution of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water required by the minimum volume requirements for each 12-month period under the Niagara Agreement (the “Annual Commitment”). Failure to sustain sales sufficient to meet our Annual Commitment to Niagara will have a material adverse impact on our business, and no assurances can be given that we will be successful in our efforts.
We believe that, in order to execute our business plan and achieve sales growth, we must, among other things, successfully recruit additional personnel in key positions, develop a larger distribution network, establish a broader customer base and increase awareness of our brand name. In order to implement any of these initiatives, we will be required to materially increase our operating expenses, which may require additional working capital. If we are unable to secure additional working capital, we will be unable to accomplish our objectives, and if we are unable to accomplish one or more of these objectives, our business may fail.
Our licensing agreements with Disney Consumer Products, Inc. and Marvel Characters, B.V. are critical components of the marketing of the AquaBall(TM) line, and there is no guarantee the licensing agreements will be renewed at the end of each agreement’s term.
We currently have licensing agreements with Disney Consumer Products, Inc. (the “Disney Agreement”) and Marvel Characters, B.V. (the “Marvel Agreement”) that allow us to place popular Disney and Marvel characters on labels of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water. The use of these characters, including Disney Princesses and Spider-Man, is critical to making AquaBall(TM) stand out among our competitors. These licensing agreements have varying terms, the Disney Agreement expires in March 31, 2017 and the Marvel Agreement expires in December 2017, and there is no guarantee we will be able to renew these agreements upon expiration, nor are we able to guarantee that we will have licensing agreements with other companies when the Disney Agreement and Marvel Agreement expire.
Certain large shareholders may have certain personal interests that may affect the Company.
As a result of securities held by Mr. Vincent C. Smith, the Vincent C. Smith, Jr. Annuity Trust 2015-1 (the “Smith Trust”), and Red Beard Holdings, LLC, an entity affiliated with Mr. Smith (“Red Beard”), Mr. Smith may be deemed the beneficial owner of, in the aggregate, approximately 48% of the Company’s outstanding voting securities. As a result, Mr. Smith, the Smith Trust and/or Red Beard has the potential ability to exert influence over both the actions of the Board of Directors and the outcome of issues requiring approval by the Company’s shareholders. This concentration of ownership may have effects such as delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company that may be favored by other shareholders or preventing transactions in which shareholders might otherwise recover a premium for their shares over current market prices.
Our limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our prospects.
We have a limited operating history on which to evaluate our business and prospects. Our current flagship product, AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water, was formulated and introduced to the public for sale in 2012. Our other product, Bazi(R) All Natural Energy, has had limited market success. There can be no assurance that we will achieve significant sales as a result of us focusing our sales efforts on the AquaBall(TM) product, or that our new sales model with be successful.
We also may not be successful in addressing our other operating challenges, such as developing brand awareness and expanding our market presence through retail sales and our direct-to-consumer and online sales strategy. Our prospects for profitability must be considered in light of our evolving business model. These factors make it difficult to assess our prospects.
We are affected by extensive laws, governmental regulations, administrative determinations, court decisions and similar other constraints, which can make compliance costly and subject us to enforcement actions by governmental agencies.
The formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, holding, storage, distribution, advertising and sale of our products are affected by extensive laws, governmental regulations and policies, administrative determinations, court decisions and similar constraints at the federal, state and local levels, both within the United States and in any country where we conduct business. There can be no assurance that we, or our independent distributors, will be in compliance with all of these regulations. A failure by us or our distributors to comply with these laws and regulations could lead to governmental investigations, civil and criminal prosecutions, administrative hearings and court proceedings, civil and criminal penalties, injunctions against product sales or advertising, civil and criminal liability for the Company and/or its principals, bad publicity, and tort claims arising out of governmental or judicial findings of fact or conclusions of law adverse to the Company or its principals. In addition, the adoption of new regulations and policies or changes in the interpretations of existing regulations and policies may result in significant new compliance costs or discontinuation of product sales, and may adversely affect the marketing of our products, resulting in decreases in revenues.
Our ability to increase sales is dependent on growing in our existing markets as well as expanding into new markets in other countries. As we expand into foreign markets, we will become subject to different political, cultural, exchange rate, economic, legal and operational risks. We may invest significant amounts in these expansions with little success.
We currently are focusing our marketing efforts in the United States and, to a lesser extent, Canada. We believe that our future growth will come from both the markets that we are currently operating in and other international markets. We do not have any history of international expansion, and therefore have no assurance that any efforts will result in increased revenue. Additionally, we may need to overcome significant regulatory and legal barriers in order to sell our products, and we cannot give assurance as to whether our distribution method will be accepted. These markets may require that we reformulate our product to comply with local customs and laws. However, there is no guarantee that the reformulated product will be approved for sale by these regulatory agencies or attract local distributors.
We are currently dependent on a limited number of suppliers and manufacturers for the production of our products, and we do not independently analyze our products before distribution. If we are not able to ensure timely product deliveries, potential distributors and customers may not order our products, and our revenues may decrease.
We rely entirely on a limited number of third parties to supply and manufacture our product, and, beginning in early 2016, we will rely entirely on Niagara to manufacture AquaBall(TM). These manufacturers may be unable to satisfy our supply requirements, manufacture our products on a timely basis, fill and ship our orders promptly, provide services at competitive costs or offer reliable products and services. The failure to meet any of these critical needs would delay or reduce product shipment and adversely affect our revenues, as well as jeopardize our relationships with our independent distributors and customers. In the event any of our manufacturers were to become unable or unwilling to continue to provide us with products in required volumes and at suitable quality levels, we would be required to identify and obtain acceptable replacement manufacturing sources. There is no assurance that we would be able to obtain alternative manufacturing sources on a timely basis. Additionally, all manufacturers source the raw materials for our products, and if we were to use alternative manufacturers we may not be able to duplicate the exact taste and consistency profile of the product from the original manufacturer. An extended interruption in the supply of our products would result in decreased product sales and our revenues would likely decline.
We are dependent on our third party manufacturers to supply our products in the compositions we require, and we do not independently analyze our products. Any errors in our product manufacturing could result in product recalls, significant legal exposure, and reduced revenues and the loss of distributors.
Although we require each of our manufacturers to verify the accuracy of the contents of our products, we do not have the expertise or personnel to monitor the production of products by these third parties. We rely exclusively, without independent verification, on certificates of analysis regarding product content provided by our third party suppliers and limited safety testing by them. We cannot be assured that these outside manufacturers will continue to supply products to us reliably in the compositions we require. Errors in the manufacture of our products could result in product recalls, significant legal exposure, adverse publicity, decreased revenues, and loss of distributors and endorsers.
We face significant competition from existing suppliers of products similar to ours. If we are not able to compete with these companies effectively, we may not be able to achieve profitability.
We face intense competition from numerous resellers, manufacturers and wholesalers of liquid nutrition drinks similar to ours, including retail, online and mail order providers. We consider the significant competing products in the U.S. market for the AquaBall(TM) to be Capri-Sun, Good to Grow, Bug Juice, and other alternatives marketed towards children, and for Bazi(R) to be Red Bull(R), Monster(R), RockStar(R), and 5 Hour Energy(R). Most of our competitors have longer operating histories, established brands in the marketplace, revenues significantly greater than ours and better access to capital than us. We expect that these competitors may use their resources to engage in various business activities that could result in reduced sales of our products. Companies with greater capital and research capabilities could re-formulate existing products or formulate new products that could gain wide marketplace acceptance, which could have a depressive effect on our future sales. In addition, aggressive advertising and promotion by our competitors may require us to compete by lowering prices because we do not have the resources to engage in marketing campaigns against these competitors, and the economic viability of our operations likely would be diminished.
Adverse publicity associated with our products or ingredients, or those of similar companies, could adversely affect our sales and revenues.
Adverse publicity concerning any actual or purported failure of our Company to comply with applicable laws and regulations regarding any aspect of our business could have an adverse effect on the public perception of our Company. This, in turn, could negatively affect our ability to obtain financing, endorsers and attract distributors or retailers for the AquaBall(TM) and/or Bazi(R), which would have a material adverse effect on our ability to generate sales and revenues.
Our distributors’ and customers’ perception of the safety and quality of our products or even similar products distributed by others can be significantly influenced by national media attention, publicized scientific research or findings, product liability claims and other publicity concerning our products or similar products distributed by others. Adverse publicity, whether or not accurate, that associates consumption of our products or any similar products with illness or other adverse effects, will likely diminish the public’s perception of our products. Claims that any products are ineffective, inappropriately labeled or have inaccurate instructions as to their use, could have a material adverse effect on the market demand for our products, including reducing our sales and revenues.
Our products may not meet health and safety standards or could become contaminated.
We have adopted various quality, environmental, health and safety standards. We do not have control over all of the third parties involved in the manufacturing of our products and their compliance with government health and safety standards. Even if our products meet these standards they could otherwise become contaminated. A failure to meet these standards or contamination could occur in our operations or those of our bottlers, distributors or suppliers. This could result in expensive production interruptions, recalls and liability claims. Moreover, negative publicity could be generated from false, unfounded or nominal liability claims or limited recalls. Any of these failures or occurrences could negatively affect our business and financial performance.
The sale of our products involves product liability and related risks that could expose us to significant insurance and loss expenses.
We face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims if the use of our products results in, or is believed to have resulted in, illness or injury. Most of our products contain combinations of ingredients, and there is little long-term experience with the effect of these combinations. In addition, interactions of these products with other products, prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs have not been fully explored or understood and may have unintended consequences. While our third party manufacturers perform tests in connection with the formulations of our products, these tests are not designed to evaluate the inherent safety of our products.
Although we maintain product liability insurance, it may not be sufficient to cover all product liability claims and such claims that may arise, could have a material adverse effect on our business. The successful assertion or settlement of an uninsured claim, a significant number of insured claims or a claim exceeding the limits of our insurance coverage would harm us by adding further costs to our business and by diverting the attention of our senior management from the operation of our business. Even if we successfully defend a liability claim, the uninsured litigation costs and adverse publicity may be harmful to our business.
Any product liability claim may increase our costs and adversely affect our revenues and operating income. Moreover, liability claims arising from a serious adverse event may increase our costs through higher insurance premiums and deductibles, and may make it more difficult to secure adequate insurance coverage in the future. In addition, our product liability insurance may fail to cover future product liability claims, which, if adversely determined, could subject us to substantial monetary damages.
The success of our business will depend upon our ability to create brand awareness.
The market for functional beverages is already highly competitive, with many well-known brands leading the industry. Our ability to compete effectively and generate revenue will be based upon our ability to create awareness of our products distinct from those of our competitors. It is imperative that we are able to convey to consumers the benefits of our products. However, advertising and packaging and labeling of such products will be limited by various regulations. Our success will be dependent upon our ability to convey to consumers that our products are superior to those of our competitors.
We must continue to develop and introduce new products to succeed.
The functional beverage and nutritional supplement industry is subject to rapid change. New products are constantly introduced to the market. Our ability to remain competitive depends on our ability to enhance existing products, continue to develop and manufacture new products in a timely and cost effective manner, to accurately predict market transitions, and to effectively market our products. Our future financial results will depend to a great extent on the successful introduction of several new products. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in selecting, developing, manufacturing and marketing new products or in enhancing existing products.
The success of new product introductions depends on various factors, including the following:
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proper new product selection;
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successful sales and marketing efforts;
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timely delivery of new products;
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availability of raw materials;
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pricing of raw materials;
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regulatory allowance of the products; and
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customer acceptance of new products.
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We may from time to time write off obsolete inventories resulting in higher expenses and consequently greater net losses.
As we sometimes produce product adorned with characters on a promotional schedule, over production of a certain character set could result in write-downs of our inventories. A change in ingredients or labeling requirements could also result in the obsolescence of certain inventory. Write-downs of this type could make it more difficult for us to achieve profitability. We incurred write-downs against inventory of $127,709 and $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and for the year ended December 31, 2014, respectively.
Product returns could require us to incur significant additional expenses, which would make it difficult for us to achieve profitability.
We have not established a reserve in our financial statements for product returns. However, we may experience product returns as we focus on the AquaBall(TM) line of products and expand our market presence nationwide. We will continue to analyze our returns to determine if a reserve is necessary. If our reserves prove to be inadequate, we may incur significant expenses for product returns. As we gain more operating experience, we may need to establish a reserve for product returns.
If we are not able to adequately protect our intellectual property, then we may not be able to compete effectively and we may not be profitable.
Our existing proprietary rights may not afford remedies and protections necessary to prevent infringement, reformulation, theft, misappropriation and other improper use of our products by competitors. We own the formulations contained in our products and the patent for the AquaBall(TM) bottle. We consider this patent and these product formulations our critical proprietary property, which must be protected from competitors. We do not have any patents for our product formulations because we do not believe they are necessary to protect our proprietary rights. Although trade secret, trademark, copyright and patent laws generally provide such protection and we attempt to protect ourselves through contracts with manufacturers of our products, we may not be successful in enforcing our rights. In addition, enforcement of our proprietary rights may require lengthy and expensive litigation. We have attempted to protect some of the trade names and trademarks used for our products by registering them with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but we must rely on common law trademark rights to protect our unregistered trademarks. Common law trademark rights do not provide the same remedies as are granted to federally registered trademarks, and the rights of a common law trademark are limited to the geographic area in which the trademark is actually used. Our inability to protect our intellectual property could have a material adverse impact on our ability to compete and could make it difficult for us to achieve a profit.
Compliance with changing corporate governance regulations and public disclosures may result in additional risks and exposures.
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and new regulations from the Securities and Exchange Commission, have created uncertainty for public companies such as ours. These laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations, and standards have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased expenses and significant management time and attention.
Loss of key personnel could impair our ability to operate.
Our success depends on hiring, retaining and integrating senior management and skilled employees. We are currently dependent on certain current key employees, specifically Kevin Sherman, our Chief Marketing Officer and interim Chief Executive Officer, who are vital to our ability to grow our business and achieve profitability. As with all personal service providers, our officers can terminate their relationship with us at will. Our inability to retain these individuals may result in our reduced ability to operate our business.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
A limited trading market currently exists for our securities, and we cannot assure you that an active market will ever develop, or if developed, will be sustained.
There is currently a limited trading market for our securities on the OTC Pink Marketplace. An active trading market for our common stock may not develop. Consequently, we cannot assure you when and if an active-trading market in our shares will be established, or whether any such market will be sustained or sufficiently liquid to enable holders of shares of our common stock to liquidate their investment in our company. If an active public market should develop in the future, the sale of unregistered and restricted securities by current shareholders may have a substantial impact on any such market.
If, and when, then shares of common stock underlying the shares of Series C Preferred and outstanding warrants are issued, our shareholders will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of their investment.
As of February 12, 2016, we had 112,049,107 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. If, and when, holders of shares of Series C Preferred, including the Selling Stockholders, decide to convert those shares into common stock or exercise their Warrants, the number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding could increase by as much as 118%. Conversion of all or a portion of the shares of Series C Preferred, Warrants and/or exercise of all or a portion of our other outstanding derivative securities would have a substantial and material dilutive effect on our existing stockholders and on our earnings per share. In addition, sale of the shares of common stock by certain holders of shares of Series C Preferred and Warrants could have a materially adverse impact on the trading price of our common stock.
If we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, it will result in the dilution of our existing shareholders.
Our Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 300.0 million shares of common stock. The issuance of any such shares of common stock will result in a reduction in value of our outstanding common stock. If we do issue any such additional shares of common stock, such issuance also will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all other shareholders. Further, any such issuance may result in a change of control of our corporation.
The price of our securities could be subject to wide fluctuations and your investment could decline in value.
The market price of the securities of a company such as ours with little name recognition in the financial community and without significant revenues can be subject to wide price swings. The market price of our securities may be subject to wide changes in response to quarterly variations in operating results, announcements of new products by us or our competitors, reports by securities analysts, volume trading, or other events or factors. In addition, the financial markets have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations for a number of reasons, including the failure of certain companies to meet market expectations. These broad market price swings, or any industry-specific market fluctuations, may adversely affect the market price of our securities.
Companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been the subject of securities class action litigation. If we were to become the subject of securities class action litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a significant diversion of our management’s attention and resources.
Because our common stock may be classified as “penny stock,” trading may be limited, and the share price could decline. Moreover, trading of our common stock, if any, may be limited because broker-dealers would be required to provide their customers with disclosure documents prior to allowing them to participate in transactions involving our common stock. These disclosure requirements are burdensome to broker-dealers and may discourage them from allowing their customers to participate in transactions involving our common stock.
We have issued preferred stock with rights senior to our common stock, and may issue additional preferred stock in the future, in order to consummate a merger or other transaction necessary to continue as a going concern.
Our Articles of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 5.0 million shares of preferred stock without shareholder approval and on terms established by our directors, of which 2.75 million shares have been designated as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and 150,000 shares have been designated as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock. We may issue additional shares of preferred stock in order to consummate a financing or other transaction, in lieu of the issuance of common stock. The rights and preferences of any such class or series of preferred stock would be established by our board of directors in its sole discretion and may have dividend, voting, liquidation and other rights and preferences that are senior to the rights of the common stock.
You should not rely on an investment in our common stock for the payment of cash dividends.
Because of our significant operating losses and because we intend to retain future profits, if any, to expand our business, we have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. You should not make an investment in our common stock if you require dividend income. Any return on investment in our common stock would only come from an increase in the market price of our stock, which is uncertain and unpredictable.
Additional risks may exist since we became public through a “reverse merger.”
Because we became public by means of a “reverse merger,” we may not be able to attract the attention of major brokerage firms. Securities analysts of major brokerage firms may not provide coverage of us since there is little incentive to brokerage firms to recommend the purchase of our common stock. We cannot assure you that brokerage firms will want to conduct any secondary offerings on behalf of the Company in the future.
We will not receive any of the proceeds of the shares offered by the Selling Stockholders. We may receive proceeds upon exercise of the Warrants, the Personal Guaranty Warrant and/or the Novelty Warrant, if they are exercised. The funds that may be received by us upon exercise of the Warrant, the Personal Guaranty Warrant and the Novelty Warrant, estimated to be as much as approximately $3.6 million, will be used for general working capital purposes.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus includes forward-looking statements that relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “could,” and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
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our ability to implement our business strategy, including the transition from a hardware storage company to a software solutions and services provider;
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anticipated trends and challenges in our business and the markets in which we operate;
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our expected future financial performance;
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our expectations regarding our operating expenses;
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our ability to anticipate market needs or develop new or enhanced products to meet those needs;
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our ability to expand into other sectors of the storage market, beyond protection storage;
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our expectations regarding market acceptance of our products;
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our ability to compete in our industry and innovation by our competitors;
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our ability to protect our confidential information and intellectual property rights;
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our ability to successfully identify and manage any potential acquisitions;
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our ability to manage expansion into international markets;
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our ability to remediate the material weakness in our internal controls identified by our independent registered public accounting firm;
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our ability to maintain or broaden our business relationships and develop new relationships with strategic alliances, suppliers, customers, distributors or otherwise;
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our ability to recruit and retain qualified sales, technical and other key personnel;
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our ability to obtain additional financing; and
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our ability to manage growth.
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All forward-looking statements involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties. The occurrence of the events described, and the achievement of the expected results, depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Actual results may differ materially from expected results. See the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus for a more complete discussion of these risks, assumptions and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties. These risks, assumptions and uncertainties are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus might not occur.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other things contemplated by the forward-looking statements will not occur. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus are based on management’s beliefs and opinions at the time the statements are made. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are made as of the date of this prospectus and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Overview
True Drinks Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”, “us” or “we”) was incorporated in the state of Nevada in January 2001 and is the holding company for True Drinks, Inc. (“True Drinks”), a beverage company incorporated in the state of Delaware in January 2012 that specializes in all-natural, vitamin-enhanced drinks. Our primary business is the development, marketing, sale and distribution of our flagship product, AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water, a vitamin-enhanced, naturally flavored water drink packaged in our patented stacking spherical bottles. We distribute the AquaBall(TM) nationally through select retail channels, such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, drug stores and online. We also market and distribute Bazi(R) All Natural Energy, a liquid nutritional supplement drink, which is currently distributed online and through our existing database of customers.
Our principal place of business is 18662 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 110, Irvine, California, 92612. Our telephone number is (949) 203-2500. Our corporate website address is http://www.truedrinks.com. Our common stock is currently listed for quotation on the OTC Pink Marketplace under the symbol TRUU.
Our History
Bazi Intl. Prior to Merger with True Drinks, Inc.
Bazi Intl. was formed in 2001, under the name “Instanet, Inc.” In August 2010, we changed our name to Bazi International, Inc. Until January 18, 2010, our principal channel of distribution was through a multilevel distributor network, which we terminated in January 2010 in favor of a retail and direct-to-consumer, online sales model. Bazi Intl. continued to distribute Bazi(R) online and through our existing database of customers, but as a result of the termination of our multilevel distributor model, most of our top distributors ended their relationship with the Company during the first quarter of 2010, causing sales of Bazi(R) to decrease throughout 2011 and into 2012. As a result, Bazi Intl. began suffering from a lack of sufficient capital necessary to adequately market Bazi(R) and support the Company’s existing retail and distribution partners.
True Drinks, Inc. Prior to Merger with the Bazi Intl.
True Drinks, Inc. (formerly GT Beverage Company, Inc.) was formed on January 19, 2012 to develop, market and sell AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water. In February and March of 2012, True Drinks, Inc. acquired GT Beverage Company, LLC. GT Beverage Company, LLC was formed in May 2008 to create and commercialize its Sportastic(R) brand sports drink, sold in round plastic bottles with registered trade dresses such as baseball and soccer designs. However, in January 2012, GT Beverage Company, LLC ceased its sports drink operations. In April 2012, True Drinks began packaging and selling AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water in its patented interlocking round plastic bottles, with depictions of characters from major entertainment companies, as permitted by licensing agreements with these companies.
True Drinks, Inc. Merges into Bazi Intl.
On June 7, 2012, True Drinks, Inc., Bazi Acquisition Sub Inc. ("Merger Sub"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bazi International, Inc. (“Bazi Intl.”), and Bazi Intl. entered into an agreement and tax-free plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”), wherein Merger Sub merged with and into the Company and True Drinks continued as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, True Drinks became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The Merger closed on October 15, 2012. As a result of Merger, True Drinks, Inc.’s former shareholders owned approximately 95.5% of the combined post-Merger entity via shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock issued as part of the Merger. The Company subsequently changed its name from “Bazi International, Inc.” to “True Drinks Holdings, Inc.” The Merger was accounted for as a public company “reverse merger,” and, as such, the consolidated financial statements reported herein reflect the operations of True Drinks, Inc. within the capital structure of Bazi Intl. Bazi Intl. was originally incorporated in the state of Nevada in January 2001.
Our Products
We market and distribute products that move away from high sugar, high calorie and nutritionally deficient beverages to healthful, natural alternatives. Our mission is to bring integrity back to the beverage industry and that honesty applies to every drop in every bottle. Our goal is to create and deliver beverages for families that encourage improved health, while being clear about what our products contain (and what they don’t).
AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water
Our flagship product, AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water, is a naturally flavored water beverage, enhanced with vitamins B3, B5, B6, B12 and C. AquaBall(TM) does not contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. Unlike high sugar and high calorie beverages marketed toward children, AquaBall(TM) is sweetened with stevia, an all-natural sweetener, allowing the AquaBall(TM) to provide a zero-sugar, zero-calorie alternative to juice and soda for kids. The main component of the marketing vision behind the AquaBall(TM) brand is our licensing agreements with Disney Consumer Products, Inc. (“Disney”) and Marvel Entertainment (“Marvel”), allowing each AquaBall(TM) to prominently feature various Disney and Marvel characters. Both Disney and Marvel characters have an established reputation of high retail sales of licensed products, giving each AquaBall(TM) the presence associated with these brands.
Each AquaBall(TM) is packaged in our patented 12 ounce stackable, spherical PET bottle, and wrapped with colorful, eye-catching labels featuring popular Disney characters and various Marvel Superheroes. AquaBall(TM) currently comes in fruit punch, grape, orange and berry flavors and is sold in mass-market retailers throughout the United States. AquaBall is also sold in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. AquaBall(TM) is also available for purchase online at http://www.aquaballdrink.com. During the year ended December 31, 2014, AquaBall(TM) sales accounted for approximately 95% of the Company’s total revenues.
Bazi(R)
Bazi(R) All Natural Energy, is a liquid nutritional drink packed with eight different super fruits, including the Chinese jujube and seven other superfruits, plus 12 vitamins. The proprietary formula contains the following fruits: jujube fruit, blueberry, pomegranate, goji berry, chokeberry, raspberry, acai and sea buckthorn. Additionally, Bazi(R) contains 12 vitamins including vitamins A, C, E and B-complex. In August, 2011, BioEnergy Ribose was added to Bazi(R) enhancing the products energy delivery system. During the year ended December 31, 2014, Bazi(R) sales accounted for approximately 5% of the Company’s total revenues.
Manufacturing and Distribution
Manufacturing
We currently use a limited number of third parties to supply and manufacture our products. We have co-packing agreements with 7-Up Bottling in Modesto, California, Mountain Pure in Palestine, Texas, and Adirondack Beverages in Scotia, New York to package up to 4.0 million cases per year. Bazi(R) has been manufactured by Arizona Packaging and Production since 2007.
In October 2015, our wholly owned subsidiary, True Drinks, entered into a bottling agreement with Niagara Bottling, LLC, pursuant to which Niagara will become the exclusive manufacturer of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water for the next five years. With Niagara, True Drinks will produce an improved “clean label” formulation of AquaBall(TM), which will remain sugar and calorie free but will eliminate all preservatives from the current formula. We expect to begin delivering this preservative free formulation of AquaBall(TM) at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016.
The Niagara Agreement requires the Company to deliver to Niagara its minimum volume requirements for the upcoming 12-month period on or before February 1st of each year (the “Annual Commitment”), which Annual Commitment may not be less than 3.2 million Cases (defined in the Niagara Agreement as a pack of 24 bottles of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water) per purchase order. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Niagara Agreement, the Company will pay Niagara $6.35 per Case manufactured, for an annual financial liability of approximately $20.3 million per year. We expect to begin delivering Cases manufactured by Niagara in the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016.
Retail Distribution
We utilize a direct-to-retailer distribution strategy to key national accounts for sales of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water, including distribution to Sam’s Club, Rite-Aid, Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Value Merchandisers, and stores under the Safeway, Inc. and The Kroger Company brands nationwide. We also distribute AquaBall(TM) through regional distributors throughout the United States, such as Drink King in New York City and Polar Beverages in New England.
We are developing a direct-store-delivery (“DSD”) distribution network for AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water through agreements with Pure Beverage Company in Indiana, D&B Grocers, Inc. in Michigan, and Griffin Beverage in Michigan, which we expect to launch in the first quarter of 2016.
Online Sales
The Company’s ecommerce platform allows current and future consumers to purchase AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water and Bazi(R) Energy Shot by visiting our webpages, http://www.aquaballdrink.com and http://www.drinkbazi.com. We drive traffic to relevant landing pages and micro sites through digital marketing campaigns and promotions, as well as a variety of social media marketing efforts.
Sales and Marketing
Our sales and marketing efforts are directed from our corporate offices in Irvine, California, utilizing our own staff, as well as outside resources retained to build market awareness and shelf placement of our products, including dedicated sales teams from Disney Consumer Products, Inc. and Marvel Entertainment. The Company manages key national accounts through our in-house national sales team.
Our sales teams work to secure national distribution with these customers through multiple avenues including joint sales meetings with Disney and Marvel sales personnel dedicated to these national accounts. The Company sales team also manages our national broker networks. The networks focus on areas such as regional grocery chains and the convenience store channel.
We are no currently dependent upon any major customers.
Source and Availability of Raw Materials
We currently utilize a variety of suppliers to purchase raw materials for the AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water, and rely significantly on one supplier for 100% of our purchases of certain raw materials for Bazi(R). Bazi, Inc. has sourced these raw materials from this supplier since 2007 and does not anticipate any issues with the supply of these raw materials. In May 2016, all production of AquaBallTM Naturally Flavored Water will be done by Niagara Bottling under our 5-year bottling agreement with them. Per the terms of that agreement, Niagara Bottling will be procuring all raw materials, and True Drinks will purchase finished goods as they are shipped to customers.
We own the formulas for both AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water and Bazi(R) Energy Shot, and we believe that our purchasing requirements can be readily met from alternative sources, if necessary.
Competition
The industries in which we operate are highly competitive. AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water competes most directly with other beverages marketed directly to children. We also compete with other manufacturers of functional beverages, and with manufacturers of more traditional beverages, such as juice and soda.
Our primary competition for AquaBall(TM) is in the $1.2 billion market for products marketed directly to children, including CapriSun(R), Tum-E Yummies, Good to Grow, Tummy Ticklers, Kool-aid and others. General competition in the beverage industry includes products owned by multinational corporations with significant financial resources, including Vitamin Water, owned by Coca-Cola, and Sobe and Propel, both owned by Pepsi Co. Bazi(R) competitors include Steaz(R), Guayaki Yerba Mate, POM Wonderful(R), as well as sports and energy drinks including Gatorade(R), Red Bull(R), 5-Hour Energy(R), RockStar(R), Monster(R), Powerade(R), Accelerade(R) and All Sport(R). Indirect competition for the AquaBall(TM) and Bazi(R) includes soft drinks and juice products, such as Sunny Delight(R) and other fruit drinks. These competitors can use their resources and scale to rapidly respond to competitive pressures and changes in consumer preferences by introducing new products, reducing prices or increasing promotional activities. Many of our competitors have longer operating histories and have substantially greater financial and other resources than we do. They therefore have the advantage of established reputations, brand names, track records, back office and managerial support systems and other advantages that we cannot duplicate in the near future. Moreover, many competitors, by virtue of their longevity and capital resources, have established lines of distribution to which we do not have access, and are not likely to duplicate in the near term, if ever.
Intellectual Property
We rely on the AquaBall(TM) patent, AquaBall(TM) and Bazi(R) trademarks and licensing agreements to market our products and make them standout among our competitors.
Patents and Trademarks
We were granted the patent for AquaBall(TM)’s stackable, spherical drink container in 2009, via GT Beverage Company, LLC, who we purchased on March 31, 2012. We maintain trademark protection for AquaBall(TM) and have federal trademark registration for Bazi(R). This trademark registration is protected for a period of ten years and then is renewable thereafter if still in use.
Licensing Agreements
We originally entered into a three-year licensing agreement with Disney Consumer Products, Inc. and an 18-month licensing agreement with Marvel Characters, B.V. (collectively, the “Licensing Agreements”) in 2012. Each Licensing Agreement allows us to feature popular Disney and Marvel characters on AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water, allowing AquaBall(TM) to stand out among other beverages marketed towards children. Under the terms and conditions of the Licensing Agreements, we work with the Disney and Marvel teams to create colorful, eye-catching labels that surround the entire spherical shape of each AquaBall(TM). Once the label designs are approved, we work with Disney and Marvel to set retail calendars, rotating the placement of different AquaBall(TM) designs over the course of the year.
In 2015, the Company and Disney entered into a renewed Licensing Agreement, which extended the Company’s license with Disney through March 31, 2017 (the “Disney Agreement”). The terms of the Disney Agreement entitles Disney to receive a royalty rate of 5% on the sale of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water adorned with Disney characters, paid quarterly, with a total guarantee of $450,870 over the period from April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2017. In addition, the Company is required to make a ‘common marketing fund’ contribution equal to 1% of sales due annually during the agreement. The Company is required to spend a total of $820,000 on advertising and promotional opportunities over the term of the Disney Agreement.
The terms of the current Marvel Licensing Agreement (“Marvel Agreement”) stipulates a royalty rate of 5% on the sales of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water adorned with Marvel characters, paid quarterly. In 2013, the Company extended the Marvel Agreement through December 31, 2015. The total royalty guarantee for the period from July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 is $37,500.
On August 22, 2015, the Company and Marvel entered into a renewed Licensing Agreement, pursuant to which the Company secured a license from Marvel, effective January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2017, to feature certain Marvel characters on bottles of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water. The Marvel Agreement requires the Company to pay to Marvel a 5% royalty rate on the sale of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water adorned with Marvel characters, paid quarterly, through December 31, 2017, with a total guarantee of $200,000.
Government Regulations
The production, distribution and sale in the United States of our products are subject to various U.S. federal and state regulations, including but not limited to: the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, including as amended by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; various environmental statutes; and a number of other federal, state and local statutes and regulations applicable to the production, transportation, sale, safety, advertising, marketing, labeling and ingredients of such products.
Certain states and localities prohibit the sale of certain beverages unless a deposit or tax is charged for containers. These requirements vary by each jurisdiction. Similar legislation has been proposed in certain other states and localities, as well as by Congress. We are unable to predict whether such legislation will be enacted or what impact its enactment would have on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
All of our facilities in the United States are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Although compliance with these provisions has not had any material adverse effect on our financial or competitive position, compliance with or violation of any current or future regulations and legislation could require material expenditures or have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
We believe that current and reasonably foreseeable governmental regulation will have minimal impact on our business.
Research and Development
No expenses were recorded on research and development for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 or the year ended December 31, 2014. We are working with certain third parties on the development of possible future products, but these projects are funded by the respective third parties. During 2012, we developed our AquaBall(TM) proprietary formula along with Wild Flavors, Inc., an independent third party contracted by the Company. We first launched distribution and sales of AquaBall(TM) in June 2012, and continued research and development efforts to add more flavors to the AquaBall(TM) line and modify the AquaBall(TM) into a zero sugar, zero calorie product. We launched the zero sugar, zero calorie line in early 2013, as well as new flavors, such as strawberry lemonade and berry.
In connection with the Niagara Agreement executed in 2015, we will begin producing an improved “clean label” formulation of AquaBall(TM), which will remain sugar and calorie free but will eliminate all preservatives from the current formula. We expect to begin delivering this preservative free formulation of AquaBall(TM) at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016.
During 2006, Bazi(R) was developed and was launched in January 2007. This product did not require FDA or other regulatory approval. During 2009, new ingredients and productions methods were researched to integrate into existing products or new products. Since 2012, Bazi(R) has been and is now being sold solely online in 12, 24, 36, 48 and 144 packs.
Employees
We currently employ eleven full-time employees and one part-time employee.
Compliance with Environmental Laws
In California, we are required to collect redemption values from our retail customers and to remit such redemption values to the State of California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery based upon the number of cans and bottles of certain carbonated and non-carbonated products sold. In certain other states where our products are sold, we are also required to collect deposits from our customers and to remit such deposits to the respective jurisdictions based upon the number of cans and bottles of certain carbonated and non-carbonated products sold in such states.
The Company leases its corporate office in Irvine, California on a one-year term. The current term expired on July 31, 2015. The Company signed an addendum to its lease, which extended the term through July 31, 2016. Total rent expense related to the Company's operating lease for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $42,425. Total remaining payments on the lease through July 31, 2016 are $37,845.
From time to time, claims are made against the Company in the ordinary course of business, which could result in litigation. Claims and associated litigation are subject to inherent uncertainties and unfavorable outcomes could occur. In the opinion of management, the resolution of these matters, if any, will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
We are currently not involved in any litigation that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Available Information
As a public company, we are required to file our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements on Schedule 14A and other information (including any amendments) with the SEC. You may read and copy such material at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You can also find the Company’s SEC filings at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Our Internet address is www.truedrinks.com. Information contained on our website is not part of this annual report on Form 10-K. Our SEC filings (including any amendments) will be made available free of charge on www.truedrinks.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
MARKET PRICE OF COMMON STOCK AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market Information
Our common stock is traded on the OTC Pink Marketplace under the symbol TRUU.
The following table sets forth high and low sales prices for our common stock for the calendar quarters indicated as reported by the OTC Pink Marketplace. These prices represent quotations between dealers without adjustment for retail markup, markdown, or commission and may not represent actual transactions.
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Low
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2015
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First Quarter
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$
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0.25
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$
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0.12
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Second Quarter
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$
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0.20
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$
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0.14
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Third Quarter
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$
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0.40
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$
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0.14
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Fourth Quarter
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$
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0.22
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$
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0.06
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2014
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First Quarter
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$
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0.53
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$
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0.22
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Second Quarter
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$
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0.49
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$
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0.28
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Third Quarter
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$
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0.40
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$
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0.30
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Fourth Quarter
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$
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0.38
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$
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0.13
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Holders
At February 12, 2016, there were 112,049,107 shares of our common stock outstanding, and approximately 265 shareholders of record. At February 12, 2016, there were 1,317,870 shares of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred”), and 63,266 shares of our Series C Preferred outstanding, held by 32 and 11 shareholders of record, respectively.
Dividends
We did not declare any dividends on common stock for nine months ended September 30, 2015 or the year ended December 31, 2014. Our Board of Directors does not intend to distribute dividends in the near future. Instead, we plan to retain any earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business. The declaration, payment and amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of our operations, cash flows and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as the Board of Directors considers relevant. There is no assurance that future dividends will be paid, and if dividends are paid, there is no assurance with respect to the amount of any such dividend.
We pay dividends on our Series B Preferred stock quarterly.
Transfer Agent
Our Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is Corporate Stock Transfer located in Denver, Colorado.
As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC, we are not required to provide this information.
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Registration Statement. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect our business, including (without limitation) the disclosures made under the captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors,” and in the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2015.
Critical Accounting Polices and Estimates
Discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates; including those related to collection of receivables, inventory obsolescence, sales returns and non-monetary transactions such as stock and stock options issued for services. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
In accordance with ASC Topic 605 (Staff Accounting Bulletin 104 “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements”), revenue is recognized at the point of shipment, at which time title is passed. Net sales include sales of products, sales of marketing tools to independent distributors and freight and handling charges. With the exception of retail customers, we receive the net sales price from all of our orders in the form of cash or credit card payment prior to shipment. Retail customers with approved credit have been extended payment terms of net 30 days, with a few exceptions.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We estimate losses on receivables based on known troubled accounts and historical experience of losses incurred. The allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $110,000 and $162,000 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
Inventory Valuation
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on a first-in first-out basis. Inventory is periodically reviewed and obsolete inventories are written off. No inventory was written off as obsolete for the period ended September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014. Prior to inventory becoming obsolete, inventory which is close to expiration is donated to charitable organizations.
Stock Based Compensation
The Company recognizes the cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of those awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, which requires compensation costs related to share-based transactions, including employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on fair value, and the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”) interpreting ASC Topic 718 and the valuation of share-based payments for public companies. The Company records compensation expense on a straight-line basis. The fair value of options granted are estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumptions for the risk-free interest rate, expected life, volatility, dividend yield and forfeiture rate.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consists of the direct costs incurred for application fees and legal expenses associated with trademarks on the Company’s products, customer list, and the estimated value of GT Beverage Company, LLC’s interlocking spherical bottle patent. The Company’s intangible assets are amortized over their estimated remaining useful lives. The Company evaluates the useful lives of its intangible assets annually and adjusts the lives according to the expected useful life. No impairment was deemed necessary during the quarter ended September 30, 2015.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that are individually identified and separately recognized. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but are tested for impairment at least annually.
Derivative Instruments
A derivative is an instrument whose value is “derived” from an underlying instrument or index such as a future, forward, swap, option contract, or other financial instrument with similar characteristics, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (“embedded derivatives”) and for hedging activities. As a matter of policy, the Company does not invest in financial derivatives or engage in hedging transactions. However, the Company has entered into complex financing transactions that involve financial instruments containing certain features that have resulted in the instruments being deemed derivatives or containing embedded derivatives. The Company may engage in other similar complex debt transactions in the future, but not with the intention to enter into derivative instruments. Derivatives and embedded derivatives, if applicable, are measured at fair value using the binomial lattice (“Binomial Lattice”) pricing model and marked to market and reflected on our condensed consolidated statement of operations as other (income) expense at each reporting period. However, such new and/or complex instruments may have immature or limited markets. As a result, the pricing models used for valuation of derivatives often incorporate significant estimates and assumptions, which may impact the level of precision in the financial statements. Furthermore, depending on the terms of a derivative or embedded derivative, the valuation of derivatives may be removed from the financial statements upon conversion of the underlying instrument into some other security.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013
Net Sales
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $4,693,414 compared to $2,649,473 during the same period in 2013, an increase of 77%. This increase in net sales is attributable to the continued execution of our business plan, including sales of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water to key retail accounts during the year ended December 31, 2014, including entrance into the club channel with significant sales at Sam’s Club and distribution to 280 Wal-Mart stores.
The percentage that each product category represented of our net sales is as follows:
Product Category
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
% of Sales
|
|
AquaBall(TM)
|
|
|
95
|
%
|
Bazi(R)
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $291,712, as compared to $521,762 for the year ended December 31, 2013. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue (gross margin) during the year ended December 31, 2014 was 6%. This figure was affected by the high costs of our raw materials due to the low volume of product manufactured during the year. Additionally, the Company’s entrance into the club channel on a national level in November 2014 resulted in a negative gross margin for the fourth quarter. However, we expect our margins on sales in the club channel to increase in 2015 due to increased volumes and the anticipated consistency of the club business.
Sales, General and Administrative Expense
Sales, general and administrative expenses were $8,838,209 for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to $5,925,895 for the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase is primarily due to increases in costs related to sales such as freight for shipping orders to customers and license fees. There were also significant increases in marketing expenditure, and slight increases in payroll related expenses such as health insurance for employees during the 2014 period.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $202,773 as compared to $1,824,074 for the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease was due to the Company’s repayment and conversion of its 2012 convertible note financing beginning in the fourth quarter of 2013, as well as the recording of shares issued and lender’s fees in connection with the issuance of the convertible notes being recorded to interest expense, and the commencement of certain private placements in June 2013. The 2013 figure includes $1,332,543 in accretion of the debt discount on notes payable created by the embedded conversion feature of the notes and the warrants issued with the notes to investors. In 2014, the interest figure was related to notes payable, a large portion of which originated in the fourth quarter.
Net Loss
Our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $8,116,603 as compared to a net loss of $7,122,135 for the year ended December 31, 2013. On a per share basis, our loss was $0.23 and $0.26 per share for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Although we experiences an increase in net sales during the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013, the increased period over period losses are primarily the result of the decrease in gross margins on sales as AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water entered the club channel, and the increase in sales and marketing expenses during the 2014 period. As explained above, we expect our margins on sales in the club channel to increase in 2015 due to increased volumes and the anticipated consistency of the club business.
Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2015 were $1,323,730, compared with sales of $1,064,065 for the three months ended September 30, 2014, a 24% increase. The increase in sales for the three months ended September 30, 2015 is principally attributable to increased sales at Sam’s Club, the commencement of sales to Target, and increases in sales to our growing base of direct-store-distributors. We expect sales to remain consistent until the launch of our preservative free formulation from Niagara’s bottling facilities in the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016.
The percentage that each product category represented of our net sales is as follows:
Product Category
|
|
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2015
(% of Sales)
|
AquaBall(TM)
|
|
|
96
|
%
|
Bazi(R)
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was $135,508, compared to gross profit of $86,741 for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue (gross margin) during three months ended September 30, 2015 was 10%. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue (gross margin) during three months ended September 30, 2014 was 8%. Gross profit will likely remain at current or below current levels during the transition from our current bottling facilities to Niagara.
Sales, General and Administrative Expense
Sales, general and administrative expenses were $3,332,053 for the three months ended September 30, 2015, as compared to $2,114,523 for the three months ended September 30, 2014. The 2015 total includes an increase in sales and marketing expenses in 2015, largely due to higher marketing expenditures. General and administrative expense may increase in subsequent quarters, due primarily to the cost associated with transitioning manufacturing of AquaBall(TM) to Niagara.
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
The Company recorded a gain on the change in fair value of derivative liabilities for the three months ended September 30, 2015 of $1,079,335.
Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was $15,456, as compared to interest income of $37,037 for the three months ended September 30, 2014.
There is no income tax expense recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, due to the Company's net losses. As of September 30, 2015, the Company has tax net operating loss carryforwards and a related deferred tax asset, offset by a full valuation allowance.
Our net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was $2,132,666, as compared to a net loss of $1,666,216 for the three months ended September 30, 2014. This year-over-year increase in net loss is primarily attributable to increased sales, general and administrative expenses during the quarter, offset, in part, by higher sales and gross profit. On a per share basis, our loss was $0.02 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2015, as compared to a loss of $0.05 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2014.
Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $4,172,626 compared to net sales of $2,875,739 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase in sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 is principally attributable to increased sales at Sam’s Club, the commencement of sales to Target, and increases in sales to our growing base of direct-store-distributors in the second quarter.
We continue to focus our efforts on expanding distribution of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water, specifically in the club channel and to direct-store-distributors. However, we are unable to access certain key accounts due, in part, to the current formulation of AquaBall(TM). As previously stated, we expect sales to remain consistent until the launch of our preservative free formulation from Niagara’s bottling facilities in the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Although we cannot predict the timing of any expected growth, we currently anticipate a growth in sales as early as mid-2016 from sales of AquaBall(TM) manufactured by Niagara, not only to our existing accounts, but to new accounts made accessible by the new, preservative free formula.
The percentage that each product category represented of our net sales is as follows:
Product Category
|
|
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2015
(% of Sales)
|
AquaBall(TM)
|
|
|
97
|
%
|
Bazi(R)
|
|
|
3
|
%
|
Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $221,665. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue (gross margin) during nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 5%. Negative gross profit in the second quarter, due to a high mix of club packs and six pack production issues, contributed to the low gross margin for the period.
Gross profit will likely remain at current or below current levels throughout fiscal 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, during the transition from our current bottling facilities to Niagara. We anticipate an increase in gross profit as early as the second quarter of 2016 as a result of decreased manufacturing costs once Niagara becomes the sole manufacturer of AquaBall(TM).
Sales, General and Administrative Expense
Sales, general and administrative expenses were $7,572,452 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $5,814,966 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Sales and Marketing expenses increased due to higher marketing expenses and marginal sales expenses increases in hand with the increase in sales.
We expect sales, general and administrative expense to increase during the fourth quarter of 2015 and into fiscal 2016, due primarily to the cost associated with transitioning manufacturing of AquaBall(TM) to Niagara, as well as increased marketing efforts associated with promoting the preservative free formulation of AquaBall(TM).
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
The Company recorded a gain for the change in fair value of derivative liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 of $749,943.
Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $223,160 as compared to $88,286 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Interest expense for 2015 consists of interest and fees due on promissory notes generated in late 2014 which were all either repaid or converted into shares of Series C Preferred in connection with the Note Exchange during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
There is no income tax expense recorded for the periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, due to the Company's net losses. As of September 30, 2015, the Company has tax net operating loss carryforwards and a related deferred tax asset, offset by a full valuation allowance.
Our net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $6,824,004 as compared to a net loss of $6,844,026 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. On a per share basis, our loss was $0.11 and $0.21 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
We expect to continue to incur a net loss in subsequent periods, and plan to fund our operations using proceeds received from capital raising activities until our operations become profitable. Although we anticipate a growth in sales and gross margins as a result of the Niagara Agreement and the introduction of our new, preservative free formulation of AquaBall(TM), these increases may not occur, may take longer than anticipated, or may not be sufficient to produce net income in any subsequent quarters.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our auditors have included a paragraph in their report on our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 included in this prospectus, indicating that there is substantial doubt as to the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. The condensed consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which contemplates continuation of the Company as a going concern. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company incurred a net loss of $2,132,666 and $6,824,004, respectively. At September 30, 2015, the Company had negative working capital of $3,239,565 and an accumulated deficit of $25,182,085. Although, during the year ended December 31, 2014 and the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, the Company raised approximately $12.7 million from the sale of shares of Series C Preferred and $800,000 from the issuance of certain senior subordinated secured promissory notes (the “Secured Notes”), additional capital will be necessary to advance the marketability of the Company's products to the point at which the Company can sustain operations, including satisfying our contractual obligations with Niagara. Management's plans are to continue to contain expenses, expand distribution and sales of its AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water as rapidly as economically possible, and raise capital through equity and debt offerings to execute the Company’s business plan and achieve profitability from continuing operations. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result in the event the Company is unsuccessful in its plans.
The Company has financed its operations through sales of equity and, to a lesser degree, cash flow provided by sales of AquaBall(TM). Despite recent sales of preferred stock as described below, funds generated from sales of shares of our preferred stock or other equity or debt securities, and cash flow provided by AquaBall(TM) sales are insufficient to fund our operating requirements for the next twelve months. As a result we will require additional capital to continue operating as a going concern. No assurances can be given that we will be successful. In the event we are unable to obtain additional financing in the short-term, we will not be able to fund our working capital requirements, and therefore will be unable to continue as a going concern.
Recent Capital Raising Activity
February 2015 Series C Offering, Note Payment and Note Exchange. On February 20, 2015, the Company and certain accredited investors entered into securities purchase agreements, pursuant to which the investors purchased 43,000 shares of Series C Preferred for $100 per share over the course of three separate closings. As additional consideration, each investor received five-year warrants, exercisable for $0.15 per share.
On March 27, 2015, the Company and certain accredited investors entered into an amendment to the February 2015 securities purchase agreements pursuant to which the Company sold to one investor 27,000 additional shares of Series C Preferred for gross proceeds of $2.7 million, which the Company subsequently used to satisfy approximately $2.7 million of the Company’s $3.8 million in outstanding promissory notes (the “Note Payments”). As additional consideration for the purchase of these additional shares of Series C Preferred, the investor received warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock on terms substantially similar to the warrants issued in connection with the offering of shares of Series C Preferred in February 2015.
Following the Note Payments, the Company and each of the holders of promissory notes remaining after the Note Payments entered into Exchange Agreements, wherein the holders agreed to exchange all remaining principal and accrued interest of the remaining promissory notes into shares of Series C Preferred on substantially similar terms to those offered in the offering of shares of Series C Preferred in February 2015 (the “Note Exchange”). As a result of the execution of these Exchange Agreements and the consummation of the Note Exchange, the Company issued to the Holders an aggregate total of 12,148 shares of Series C Preferred and warrants to purchase approximately 2.8 million shares of common stock for $0.15 per share.
August 2015 Series C Offering. On August 13, 2015, the Company and Red Beard Holdings, LLC (“Red Beard”) entered into a securities purchase agreement, pursuant to which Red Beard purchased 17,648 shares of Series C Preferred for $113.33 per share over the course of three separate closings. As additional consideration for participating in this offering, Red Beard received warrants to purchase a total of 3,633,411 shares of common stock, exercisable for $0.17 per share. On October 16, 2015, the Company and Red Beard amended the securities purchase agreement in order to issue an additional 8,823 shares of Series C Preferred to Red Beard for gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $1.0 million. In connection with this amendment, Red Beard also received warrants to purchase approximately 1.81 million shares of common stock.
September 2015 Note Offering. On September 9, 2015, the Company began a private offering, to certain accredited investors of: (i) Secured Notes in the aggregate principal amount of up to $2.5 million; and (ii) and warrants to purchase that number of shares equal to 15% of the principal amount of the Secured Note purchased by each investor, divided by the ten-day average closing price of the Company’s common stock. Each Secured Note accrues interest at a rate of 12% per annum, and will mature one year from the date of issuance. To date, the Company has issued an aggregate total of $855,000 Secured Notes and warrants to purchase an aggregate total of 280,265 shares of common stock.
November 2015 Series C Offering. On November 25, 2015, the Company and Red Beard entered into a securities purchase agreement, pursuant to which Red Beard agreed to purchase up to 30,000 shares of Series C Preferred for $100 per share over the course of three separate closings between November 2015 and January 2016. As additional consideration for the purchase of the shares of Series C Preferred, Red Beard received five-year warrants, exercisable for $0.15 per share, to purchase that number of shares of the Company's common stock equal to 35% of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Series C Preferred purchased.
January 2016 Note Exchange. On January 20, 2016, the Company and holders of Secured Notes in the principal amount of $500,000 entered into Note Exchange Agreements pursuant to which the holders agreed to convert the outstanding principal balance of their Secured Notes into an aggregate total of 4,413 shares of Series C Preferred and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate total of 1,029,701 shares of common stock for $0.17 per share. Neither holder received warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with their respective Secured Notes, and agreed to waive any unpaid interest accrued under the Secured Notes prior to the execution of the Note Exchange Agreement.
Line-of-Credit Facility
The Company entered into a line-of-credit agreement with a financial institution on June 30, 2014. The terms of the agreement allow the Company to borrow up to the lesser of $1.5 million or 85% of the sum of eligible accounts receivables. At September 30, 2015, the total outstanding on the line-of-credit approximated $167,000 and the Company had approximately $0 available to borrow. The line-of-credit bears interest at Prime rate (3.25% as of September 30, 2015) plus 4.50% per annum as well as a monthly fee of 0.50% on the average amount outstanding on the line.
Off-Balance Sheet Items
We had no off-balance sheet items as of September 30, 2015.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
There have been no disagreements with our independent registered public accounting firm in regards to accounting and financial disclosure.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS
Directors and Executive Officers
The following sets forth certain information regarding each of our directors and executive officers:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Kevin Sherman
|
|
45 |
|
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Director
|
Daniel Kerker
|
|
43 |
|
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
|
Robert Van Boerum
|
|
39 |
|
Chief Operations Officer
|
Ramona Cappello
|
|
56 |
|
Chairman
|
Scot Cohen
|
|
46 |
|
Director
|
Neil LeVecke
|
|
48 |
|
Director
|
Directors hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders following their election unless they resign or are removed as provided in the bylaws. Our officers serve at the discretion of our Board of Directors.
The following is a summary of our executive officers’ and directors’ business experience.
Executive Officers
Kevin Sherman, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Director. Mr. Sherman has served as the Chief Marketing Officer, managing the brand development of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water since he joined the Company in October 2012. Mr. Sherman joined the Company’s board of directors in September 2015, and was appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer in December 2015. Prior to joining True Drinks, Mr. Sherman was the Vice President Strategy and Network Development and President of Retail for Bazi, Inc. He was instrumental in the development of Bazi’s All-Natural formula and spearheaded the concept of all-natural energy. Prior to Bazi, Mr. Sherman served as the Senior Manager of Network Development of Product Partners LLC from May 2008 to May 2009, Chief Operating Officer of Hand & Associates from January 2008 to May 2008, and as the director of development and principal of Holy Innocents School from August 2007 to December 2007. Mr. Sherman also served as the principal of Saints Peter and Paul School from January 2004 to August 2007. Mr. Sherman holds a B.A. from Gordon College, and a M.A. from Loyola Marymount University.
Daniel Kerker, Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kerker is a professional with over 15 years of experience in finance and accounting in both private and public entities. He spent seven years as Director of Finance at Anheuser-Busch Sales of Los Angeles, an Anheuser-Busch-owned distributor with over $200 million in annual sales, leaving in 2010. Prior to joining True Drinks, Inc., Mr. Kerker spent two years working as interim CFO for Environmental Packaging Technologies in Houston, Texas, and Regeneca, Inc. in Irvine, California. Mr. Kerker became Chief Financial Officer of True Drinks on March 1, 2012. Mr. Kerker earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from California State University, Northridge and an MBA in Finance from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, where he was a Harold M. Williams Fellow for graduating at the top of his class and won the J. Fred Preston Award for Achievement in Finance.
Robert Van Boerum, Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Van Boerum was appointed to serve as the Company’s Chief Operations Officer in September, 2015. Mr. Van Boerum has been an employee of the Company since 2012, and has handled a wide range of responsibilities, including marketing, operations, and information technology. Prior to his time with the Company, Mr. Van Boerum served Chief Information Officer for Regeneca International, Inc. from 2011 to 2012, and as Vice President of Corporate Strategy for AL International (JCOF) form 2009 to 2011. Mr. Van Boerum holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems form the University of Nevada- Las Vegas, and a MBA from San Diego State University.
Board of Directors
Ramona Cappello, Chairman. Ms. Cappello was appointed to the Board in July 2015 and as Chairman of the Board in November 2015. Ms. Cappello is currently the Chief Executive Officer Sun Harvest Salt, LLC, a company she founded in 2014. Prior to Sun Harvest Salt, Ms. Cappello served as Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Corazonas Foods from 2006 until the sale of Corazonas Foods in 2014. Ms. Cappello was also a senior executive with Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company until its sale to Hershey Foods, and has served in various positions for other food and beverage companies including Nestle, Celestial Seasonings and Kendall-Jackson Wineries. In addition to her responsibilities with Sun Harvest Salt, Ms. Cappello has served on the University of Southern California Board of Trustees since 2014, is a member of the USC Associates and Marshall Partners, and serves on the board of Catholic Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Los Angeles. Ms. Cappello hold a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, where she graduated a class valedictorian.
The Board of Directors believes Ms. Cappello’s experience in executive roles with consumer products companies and her experience in corporate governance will provide the Board with invaluable insight and guidance as the Company continues to expand the sales of the AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water to both existing and new retail accounts.
Scot Cohen, Director. Mr. Cohen was appointed to the Board in March 2013 and is the Founder and Managing Partner of V3 Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on early-stage companies primarily in the consumer products industry, and Co-Manager of Red Fortune Fund, a private equity fund based in Hong Kong. Mr. Cohen also is the Founder of Petro River Oil LLC and Chairman of Petro River Oil Corp (OTCBB: PTRC), a publicly traded oil and gas producer with assets in Kansas and Oklahoma, and Petro Spring, a global oil and gas technology solutions provider. Prior to creating V3 Capital Partners, Mr. Cohen was the Founder and Managing Partner at Iroquois Capital Opportunity Fund, a special situations private equity investment fund, and a Co-Founder of Iroquois Capital, a hedge fund with investments in small and micro-cap private and public companies. Mr. Cohen is active in philanthropic activities with numerous charities including the Jewish Enrichment Council and is a Founder and the Chairman of the National Foundation for Veteran Redeployment, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to help unemployed veterans prepare for and enter new careers in the oil and gas industry. Mr. Cohen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University in 1991.
The Board of Directors believes Mr. Cohen’s success with multiple private investment firms, his extensive contacts within the investment community and financial expertise will assist the Company’s efforts to raise capital to fund the continued implementation of the Company’s business plan.
Neil LeVecke, Director. Mr. LeVecke is the President of LeVecke Corporation, a wholesale distributor and bottler of spirits and wine products. Representing a third generation in the family business, he has worked every position in the company since starting in 1993. Mr. LeVecke graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 1990.
The Board of Directors believes Mr. LeVecke’s 22 years in the wholesale beverage distributing and bottling industry will provide the Board with invaluable insight and guidance as the Company continues to expand the sales of the AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water to both existing and new retail accounts.
Kevin Sherman, Director. See above.
The Board of Directors believes Mr. Sherman’s long-standing service to the Company and its predecessor, Bazi, Inc., provide the Board with the guidance necessary to continue to expand the Company’s distribution networks, and promote brand awareness of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water.
There have been no events under any bankruptcy act, no criminal proceedings and no judgments or injunctions material to the evaluation of the ability and integrity of any director or nominee during the past ten years.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Attendance at Meetings
The Board held eight meetings, and acted four times by unanimous written consent during the year ended December 31, 2015. Each director attended at least 75% of Board meetings during the year ended December 31, 2015. We have no formal policy with respect to the attendance of Board members at annual meetings of shareholders but encourage all incumbent directors and director nominees to attend each annual meeting of shareholders.
Independent Directors
The Board believes that a majority of its members should be independent directors. The Board has determined that, other than Mr. Sherman, all of its current directors are independent directors as defined by the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market.
The members of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee of the Board each meet the independence standards established by the NASDAQ Stock Market and the SEC for audit committees and compensation committees. In addition, the Board has determined that Mr. Cohen satisfies the definition of an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules and regulations. These designations do not impose any duties, obligations or liabilities on Mr. Cohen that are greater than those generally imposed on them as members of the Audit Committee and the Board, and his designation as an audit committee financial expert does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or the Board.
Board Committees and Charters
The Board has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board appoints the members and chairpersons of these committees. The majority of the members of these committees have been determined by the Board to be independent. In addition, each member of these committees has been determined by the Board to be independent. Each committee has a written charter approved by the Board. Copies of each committee charter are available on the Company’s website at www.truedrinks.com/investor-relations/ and by clicking on the “Corporate Governance” tab.
Audit Committee
|
|
Members:
|
Mr. Scot Cohen (Chairman)
Ms. Ramona Cappello
Mr. Neil LeVecke
|
Number of Meetings in 2015:
|
None
|
Functions:
|
This committee assists the Board in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters involving the Company’s accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions by approving the services performed by the Company’s independent accountants and reviewing their reports regarding the Company’s accounting practices and systems of internal accounting controls. This committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the independent accountants and for ensuring that the accountants are independent of management.
Following the resignation of three of the Company's independent Board members between November 2014 and March 2015, the Board temporarily suspended the Audit Committee until there were sufficient independent directors to satisfy the independence requirements for Audit Committees as determined by the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules. During this time, the responsibilities of the Audit Committee were carried out by the full Board of Directors. The Audit Committee was reinstated in November 2015, and did not meet during the year ended December 31, 2015.
|
Compensation Committee
|
|
Members:
|
Ms. Ramona Cappello (Chairman)
Mr. Scot Cohen
|
Number of Meetings in 2015:
|
Three
|
|
|
Functions:
|
This committee determines the Company’s general compensation policies and practices. This committee also reviews and approves compensation packages for the Company’s officers and, based upon such review, recommends overall compensation packages for the officers to the Board. This committee also reviews and determines equity-based compensation for the Company’s directors, officers, employees and consultants and administers the Company’s 2013 Stock Incentive Plan.
|
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
|
|
Members:
|
Mr. Neil LeVecke (Chairman)
Ms. Ramona Cappello
|
Number of Meetings in 2015:
|
One
|
Functions:
|
This committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of the Board and for overseeing the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and reporting and making recommendations to the Board concerning corporate governance matters.
|
Board Leadership Structure
The Board currently separates the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board in recognition of the differences between the two roles. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Company and the day-to-day leadership and performance of the Company, while the Chairman of the Board provides guidance to the Chief Executive Officer and sets the agenda for the Board meetings and presides over meetings of the Board. However, the Board believes it should be able to freely select the Chairman of the Board based on criteria that it deems to be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders, and therefore one person may, in the future, serve as both the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
Board Role in Risk Assessment
Management, in consultation with outside professionals, as applicable, identifies risks associated with the Company’s operations, strategies and financial statements. Risk assessment is also performed through periodic reports received by the Audit Committee from management, counsel and the Company’s independent registered public accountants relating to risk assessment and management. Audit Committee members meet privately in executive sessions with representatives of the Company’s independent registered public accountants. The Board also provides risk oversight through its periodic reviews of the financial and operational performance of the Company.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, which is filed as an exhibit to this prospectus.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the following persons for our fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:
(a)
|
our principal executive officer;
|
|
|
(b)
|
our most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as an executive officer at the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 who had total compensation exceeding $100,000 (together, with the principal executive officer, the “Named Executive Officers”); and
|
|
|
(c)
|
any additional individuals who would have been considered Named Executive Officers, but for the fact that they were not serving in such capacity at the end of our most recently completed fiscal year.
|
Name and
Principal
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Stock Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option Awards
($) (1)
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compen-sation
($)
|
|
|
All Other Compen- sation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin Sherman, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Director
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
181,751
|
|
|
$
|
53,300
|
|
|
$
|
471,691
|
|
|
$
|
(262,795
|
)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
443,947
|
|
|
2014
|
|
$
|
156,250
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
262,795
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
419,045
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel Kerker
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
178,680
|
|
|
$
|
63,959
|
|
|
$
|
471,691
|
|
|
$
|
(262,794
|
)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
451,536
|
|
|
2014
|
|
$
|
180,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
262,794
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
442,794
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Van Boerum
Chief Operations Officer
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
144,970
|
|
|
$
|
38,433
|
|
|
$
|
353,768
|
|
|
$
|
(187,893
|
)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
349,278
|
|
|
2014
|
|
$
|
126,186
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
187,893
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
314,079
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lance Leonard (2)
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
229,125
|
|
|
$
|
126,523
|
|
|
$
|
302,500
|
|
|
$
|
(375,188
|
)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
282,960
|
|
Former Chief Executive Officer and Former Director
|
|
2014
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
375,188
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
625,188
|
|
(1)
|
The Company uses a Black-Scholes option-pricing model (the “Black-Scholes Model”) to estimate the fair value of the stock option grant. The use of a valuation model requires the company to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs. Expected volatility was calculated based on the historical volatility of the company’s stock price. In the future the average expected life will be based on the contractual term of the option and expected employee exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior. Currently it is based on the simplified approach provided by SAB 107. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life assumed at the date of the grant. The following were the factors used in the Black Sholes Model to calculate the compensation expense:
|
|
|
For the year ended
December 31, 2015
|
|
Stock price volatility
|
|
|
75
|
%
|
Risk-free rate of return
|
|
|
0.66
|
%
|
Annual dividend yield
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expected life
|
|
30 months
|
|
(2)
|
Mr. Leonard resigned from the Company effective January 15, 2016.
|
Employment Agreements
Kevin Sherman. Mr. Sherman is employed as the Company’s Chief Marketing Officer pursuant to a two-year employment agreement, dated November 25, 2015 (the “Sherman Agreement”). Under the terms and conditions of the Sherman Agreement, Mr. Sherman receives: (i) a base salary of $22,916.67 per month, subject to certain adjustments in the event the Company achieves certain monthly sales objectives (“Target Objectives”); (ii) a $3,000 per month housing allowance, subject to termination in the event the Company achieves any of the Target Objectives; (iii) a ‘retention bonus’ of $100,000, of which $50,000 was paid to Mr. Sherman in November 2015 and the remaining $50,000 will be payable in November 2016; and (iv) an aggregate total of approximately 2.3 million shares of restricted stock, subject to certain vesting conditions (“Restricted Shares”), which Restricted Shares represent approximately 3.25% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, including shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Company’s outstanding shares of preferred stock (“Protected Interest”). In the event the Company issues additional shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities convertible or exercisable for common stock, the Sherman Agreement provides that Mr. Sherman will be issued that number of additional Restricted Shares so that the total number of Restricted Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Sherman equals the Protected Interest.
Mr. Sherman is also eligible for an annual bonus equal to 30% of his base salary, currently payable in restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, which bonus will be awarded at the sole discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Compensation Committee awarded a $53,300 bonus to Mr. Sherman for the period through December 31, 2014, which bonus was paid in 532,995 shares of common stock.
In addition to the annual bonus, in the event of a change in control transaction, as defined in the Sherman Employment Agreement, Mr. Sherman will be entitled to a bonus equal to 3.25% of the value of the transaction resulting in a change in control, minus the fair market value of all Restricted Shares issued to Mr. Sherman prior to the date of the change in control transaction.
Mr. Sherman’s employment may be terminated for “Cause”, if Mr. Sherman (a) is convicted of any fraud or embezzlement, (b) after written notice, willfully breaches or habitually neglects his duties and responsibilities, (c) commits acts of dishonesty, gross negligence or willful misconduct or (d) violates any law or regulation relating to the business operations of the Company that may have a material adverse effect on the Company. If the Company terminates Mr. Sherman’s employment for reasons other than for Cause, the Company shall pay a severance in an amount equal to six months of Mr. Sherman’s base salary.
Prior November 2015, Mr. Sherman was employed pursuant to an employment agreement which first took effect on October 1, 2014. Mr. Sherman received a base salary of $14,583.33 per month, and an annual bonus as approved by the Board and shall be entitled to earn stock option compensation.
Daniel Kerker. Mr. Kerker is employed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to an Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 2012 (the “Kerker Agreement”) and effective October 15, 2012. The term of the Kerker Agreement is for a period of three years, which shall extend automatically for successive one-year periods unless the Kerker Agreement is terminated by either party. Mr. Kerker receives a base salary of $12,500 per month until the earlier of September 1, 2012 or the Company achieving $1,000,000 in monthly gross sales, in which case the base salary shall be increased (a) to $15,000 per month, or (b) if the Company achieves $2,000,000 in monthly gross sales, to $16,250 per month. Mr. Kerker is also eligible to receive an annual bonus as approved by the Board and shall be entitled to earn stock option compensation to acquire a total of 430,043 shares of the Company’s common stock over the term of the agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Compensation Committee awarded a $63,960 bonus to Mr. Kerker for the period through December 31, 2014, which bonus was paid in 639,594 shares of common stock.
Mr. Kerker’s employment may be terminated for “Cause”, if Mr. Kerker (a) is convicted of any fraud or embezzlement, (b) after written notice, willfully breaches or habitually neglects his duties and responsibilities, (c) commits acts of dishonesty, gross negligence or willful misconduct or (d) violates any law or regulation relating to the business operations of the Company that may have a material adverse effect on the Company. If the Company terminates Mr. Kerker’s employment for reasons other than for Cause, the Company shall pay a severance in an amount equal to six months of Mr. Kerker’s base salary.
Robert Van Boerum. Mr. Van Boerum is employed as the Company’s Chief Operations Officer pursuant to a two-year employment agreement, dated September 11, 2015 (the “Van Boerum Agreement”). Under the terms and conditions of the Van Boerum Agreement, Mr. Van Boerum receives a base salary of $14,583.33 per month. Mr. Van Boerum is also be eligible for an annual bonus equal to 30% of his salary, which bonus will be awarded at the sole discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee, and is eligible to earn stock option compensation at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Compensation Committee awarded a $38,433 bonus to Mr. Van Boerum for the period through December 31, 2014.
The Van Boerum Agreement may be terminated for “Cause”, if Mr. Van Boerum (a) is convicted of any fraud or embezzlement, (b) after written notice, willfully breaches or habitually neglects his duties and responsibilities, (c) commits acts of dishonesty, gross negligence or willful misconduct or (d) violates any law or regulation relating to the business operations of the Company that may have a material adverse effect on the Company. If the Company terminates Mr. Van Boerum’s employment for reasons other than for Cause, the Company shall pay a severance in an amount equal to six months of Mr. Van Boerum’s base salary.
Other than as set forth above, there are no arrangements or understandings between our executive officers and any other person pursuant to which they were appointed as officers. Neither of the Incoming Officers has a family relationship that is required to be disclosed under Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K.
Director Compensation
Pursuant to the Company’s Director Compensation Plan, non-employee directors (“Outside Directors”) shall receive (a) a $30,000 annual retainer, payable in equal quarterly installments in either cash or shares of common stock, (b) additional committee retainers as determined by the Board and (c) reimbursement for expenses related to Board meeting attendance and committee participation. Directors that are also employees of the Company do not receive additional compensation for serving on the Board.
The following table discloses certain information concerning the compensation of the Company’s non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2015:
Name
|
|
Fees earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Ramona Cappello (1)
|
|
$
|
17,500
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
17,500
|
|
Neil LeVecke (2)
|
|
$
|
27,500
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
27,500
|
|
Scot Cohen
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
Carl Wistreich (3)
|
|
$
|
7,500
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
7,500
|
|
Lou Imbrogno (3)
|
|
$
|
7,500
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
7,500
|
|
(1)
|
Ms. Cappello was appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective July 31, 2015.
|
(2)
|
Mr. LeVecke was appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors on February 18, 2015.
|
(3)
|
Messrs. Wistreich and Imbrogno each resigned from the Board of Directors on March 10, 2015.
|
Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2015
The following table sets forth all equity awards held by our Named Executive Officers at December 31, 2015.
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
|
Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#)
|
|
|
Market value of shares or units
of stock that have
not vested ($)
|
|
|
Equity
incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#)
|
|
|
Equity incentive plan awards: Market or Payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin Sherman
|
|
|
|
2,398,275
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
290,191 |
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
Daniel Kerker
|
|
|
|
2,398,275
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
290,191 |
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
Robert Van Boerum
|
|
|
|
1,923,706
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
232,768 |
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
Lance Leonard
|
|
|
|
3,672,268
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
444,344 |
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
(1)
|
Non-vested shares are scheduled to vest equally in four annual installments, beginning on September 30, 2016.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Mr. Leonard resigned from the Company effective January 15, 2016. Upon resignation, Mr. Leonard forfeited all non-vested restricted stock awards.
|
Cancellation of Stock Option Exercises and Cancellation of Stock Options
Between June and July 2015, the Company and each of the holders of all outstanding options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock agreed to cancel and forfeit their options, such that, as of July 10, 2015, no options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding. There were no options exercised by the Named Executive Officers or Directors in fiscal 2015 before these cancellations.
On August 6, 2015, the Company’s board of directors authorized an issuance of an aggregate total of 19,491,375 shares of restricted common stock pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2013 Stock Incentive Plan to certain employees, including those that agreed to cancel previously issued stock options.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table includes information as of December 31, 2015 for our equity compensation plans:
Plan category
|
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
|
|
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
|
|
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
|
|
508,625 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
|
|
508,625 |
|
2013 Stock Incentive Plan. The 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors on December 31, 2013. The 2013 Plan reserves for issuance 20.0 million shares of common stock for issuance to all employees (including, without limitation, officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company (each a “Subsidiary”), any non-employee director, consultants and independent contractors of the Company or any Subsidiary, and any joint venture partners (including, without limitation, officers, directors and partners thereof) of the Company or any Subsidiary. Awards under the 2013 Plan may be made in the form of: (i) incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, once the 2013 Plan has been approved by a majority of the Company’s stockholders; (ii) stock options that do not qualify as incentive stock options; and/or (iii) awards of shares that are subject to certain restrictions specified in the 2013 Plan.
Options to purchase an aggregate total of 11,999,998 shares of common stock were issued under the 2013 Plan during the year ended December 31, 2014, which options were subsequently canceled on July 1, 2015. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company issued an aggregate total of 15,389,451 restricted stock awards pursuant to the 2013 Plan.
Post-Employment Compensation, Pension Benefits, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
There were no post-employment compensation, pension or nonqualified deferred compensation benefits earned by the Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2015.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
None.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
As of February 12, 2016, we had three classes of voting stock outstanding: (i) Common Stock; (ii) Series B Preferred; and (iii) Series C Preferred. The following tables set forth information regarding shares of Series B Preferred, Series C Preferred and Common Stock beneficially owned as of February 12, 2016 by:
|
(i)
|
Each of our officers and directors;
|
|
(ii)
|
All officer and directors as a group; and
|
|
(iii)
|
Each person known by us to beneficially own five percent or more of the outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred, Series C Preferred and Common Stock. Percent ownership is calculated based on 1,342,870 shares of Series B Preferred, 68,486 shares of Series C Preferred and 112,049,07 shares Common Stock outstanding at February 12, 2016.
|
Beneficial Ownership of Series B Preferred
Name and Address (1)
|
|
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (2)(3)
|
|
|
% Ownership of Class (4)
|
|
Scot Cohen (5)
|
|
|
135,000
|
|
|
|
10.05
|
%
|
Total Officers and Directors (1)
|
|
|
135,000
|
|
|
|
10.05
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Bank & Trust as custodian of Ronald L. Chez IRA
820 Church Street
Evanston Illinois, 60201
|
|
|
425,000
|
|
|
|
31.65
|
%
|
Wolfson Equities LLC
1 State Street Plaza, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10004
|
|
|
187,500
|
|
|
|
13.96
|
%
|
Joe Kolling
58 Beacon Bay
Newport Beach, CA 92660
|
|
|
155,556
|
|
|
|
11.58
|
%
|
V3 Capital Partners LLC
20 East 20th Street, Apt. 6
New York, NY 10003
|
|
|
118,750
|
|
|
|
8.84
|
%
|
*
|
Less than 1%
|
(1)
|
Each of the Company’s officers and directors who do not hold shares of Series B Preferred were excluded from this table. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each stockholder is 18552 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 325, Irvine, CA 92612.
|
(2)
|
Subject to the limitations in the Certificate of Designation, each share of Series B Preferred is convertible into that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Stated Value, divided by the Conversion Price, as defined in the Certificate of Designation. As of September 30, 2015, the Conversion Price was $0.25.
|
(3)
|
Pursuant to the Certificate of Designation, shares of Series B Preferred may not be converted or exercised, as applicable, to the extent that the holder and its affiliates would own more than 9.99% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock after such conversion. The Certificate of Designation also entitles each share of Series B Preferred to vote, on an as converted basis, along with the Common Stock; provided, however, that the Series B Preferred may not be voted to the extent that the holder and its affiliates would control more than 9.99% of the Company’s voting power.
|
(4)
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities.
|
(5)
|
Includes 3,750 shares held directly by Mr. Cohen, 118,750 shares held by V3 Capital Partners and 12,500 shares held by the Scot Jason Cohen Foundation. Mr. Cohen is the Managing Partner of V3 Capital Partners and is an officer of the Scot Jason Cohen Foundation.
|
Beneficial Ownership of Series C Preferred
Name and Address (1)
|
|
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
|
|
|
% Ownership of Class (2)
|
|
Red Beard Holdings, LLC
2560 East Chapman Avenue #173
Orange, CA 92869
|
|
|
56,471
|
|
|
|
82.46
|
%
|
Christopher Turoci
974 Sandstone Dr.
Glendora, CA 91740
|
|
|
7,868
|
|
|
|
11.49
|
%
|
*
|
Less than 1%.
|
(1)
|
Each of the Company’s directors and officers was excluded from this table, as none of our officers or directors hold shares of Series C Preferred.
|
(2)
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities.
|
Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock
Name, Address and Title (if applicable) (1)
|
|
Number of Shares (1)
|
|
|
% Ownership of Class (2)
|
|
Kevin Sherman
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Director
|
|
|
2,887,942
|
|
|
|
2.58
|
%
|
Daniel Kerker
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
|
|
|
2,139,594
|
|
|
|
1.91
|
%
|
Robert VanBoerum
Chief Operations Officer
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Ramona Cappello
Chairman
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Scot Cohen (3)
Director
|
|
|
6,545,834
|
|
|
|
5.69
|
%
|
Neil LeVecke
Director
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Total officers and directors (4)
|
|
|
12,573,369
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vincent C. Smith (5)
2560 East Chapman Avenue #173
Orange, CA 92869
|
|
|
130,378,020
|
|
|
|
66.79
|
%
|
Vincent C. Smith Annuity Trust 2015-1 (6)
2560 East Chapman Avenue #173
Orange, CA 92869
|
|
|
60,300,000
|
|
|
|
47.23
|
%
|
Red Beard Holdings, LLC (7)
2560 East Chapman Avenue #173
Orange, CA 92869
|
|
|
50,097,246
|
|
|
|
30.90
|
%
|
First Bank & Trust as custodian of Ronald L. Chez IRA (8)
820 Church Street
Evanston Illinois, 60201
|
|
|
11,397,294
|
|
|
|
9.43
|
%
|
Christopher Turoci (9)
974 Sandstone Dr.
Glendora, CA 91740
|
|
|
9,524,033
|
|
|
|
7.93
|
%
|
(1)
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. All entries exclude beneficial ownership of shares issuable pursuant to warrants, options or other derivative securities that have not vested or that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date hereof or which will not become vested or exercisable within 60 days of February 12, 2016.
|
(2)
|
Percentages are rounded to nearest one-hundredth of one percent. Percentages are based on 112,049,107 shares of common stock outstanding. Warrants, options or other derivative securities that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days are deemed to be beneficially owned by the person holding the options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of any other person.
|
(3)
|
Comprised of 3,610,000 shares held of record, 60,000 shares issuable upon conversion of 3,750 shares of Series B Preferred, 17,500 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants, 1,900,000 shares issuable upon conversion of 118,750 shares of Series B Preferred held by V3 Capital Partners, 700,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by V3 Capital Partners, 200,000 shares issuable upon conversion of 12,500 shares of Series B Preferred held by the Scot Jason Cohen Foundation and 58,334 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by the Scot Jason Cohen Foundation each of which are exercisable within 60 days of February 12, 2016.
Mr. Cohen is the Managing Partner of V3 Capital Partners and an officer of the Scot Jason Cohen Foundation.
|
(4)
|
Comprised of 9,637,536 shares of Common Stock held of record and an aggregate total of 2,935,834 shares issuable pursuant to certain derivative securities (as described above) each of which are exercisable within 60 days of February 12, 2016.
|
(5)
|
Based on Company records and ownership information from Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13D filed by Vincent C. Smith on December 14, 2015. Mr. Smith is the trustee for the Vincent C. Smith Annuity Trust 2015-1 (the “Smith Trust”) and manager of Red Beard Holdings, LLC (“Red Beard”). As such, Mr. Smith has voting and/or dispositive power and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities held by each of these entities. In addition to the securities held by the Smith Trust and Red Beard, shares held by Mr. Smith include 17,500,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants, presently exercisable within 60 days of February 12, 2016, and 1,459,329 shares held by LB 2, LLC, an entity managed by Mr. Smith.
|
(6)
|
Based on ownership information from Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13D filed by Vincent C. Smith on December 14, 2015. Includes 15,633,333 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants, which warrants are exercisable within 60 days of February 12, 2016.
Mr. Vincent C. Smith is the trustee of the Smith Trust, and has voting and/or dispositive power over the shares.
|
(7)
|
Based on ownership information from Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13D filed by Vincent C. Smith on December 14, 2015. Includes 37,647,333 shares issuable upon conversion of 56,471 shares of Series C Preferred and 12,449,913 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants, each of which are exercisable within 60 days of February 12, 2016.
Mr. Vincent C. Smith is a manager of Red Beard Holdings, LLC, and has voting and/or dispositive power over the shares.
|
(8)
|
Based on ownership information from Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13D filed by Individual Retirement Accounts for the benefit of Ronald L. Chez, Ronald L. Chez Individually and the Chez Family Foundation on December 8, 2014. Includes 6,800,000 shares issuable upon conversion of 425,000 shares of Series B Preferred and 1,983,334 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants, each of which are exercisable within 60 days of February 12, 2016.
|
(9)
|
Comprised of 1,513,052 shares held of record, 5,245,333 shares issuable upon conversion of 7,868 shares of Series C Preferred, 720,000 shares issuable upon conversion of 45,000 shares of Series B Preferred and 2,045,648 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants, each of which are exercisable within 60 days of February 12, 2016.
|
The Company’s authorized capital stock currently consists of 300.0 million shares of common stock, and 5.0 million shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of which 2.75 million shares have been designated as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred”) and 150,000 shares have been designated as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred”).
As of February 12, 2016, there were 112,049,107 shares of common stock outstanding. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive, ratably, any dividends that may be declared by our Board of Directors out of legally available funds, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Upon the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive, ratably, the Company’s net assets available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities, and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are also subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which the Company may designate and issue in the future without further stockholder approval.
The Board is currently authorized, without further stockholder approval, to issue from time to time up to an aggregate of 5.0 million shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix or alter the designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the shares of each series, including the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, term of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series or designations without further vote or action by the stockholders. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of management without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock, including the loss of voting control to others.
As of February 12, 2016, we had two outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred and the Series C Preferred. Below is a summary of the terms of the Series B Preferred and Series C Preferred. For a full description of the rights and preferences associated with each series of Preferred Stock, please refer to the Series B Certificate of Designation and the Series C Certificate of Designation (each defined below), each available as an exhibit to our filings with the SEC.
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
In November 2013, the Certificate of Designation, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Certificate of Designation”) was filed with the Nevada Secretary of State, and subsequently amended and restated in February 2015, in order to designate 2.75 million shares of our Preferred Stock as Series B Preferred. The following summarizes the current rights and preferences of the Series B Preferred:
Rank. The Series B Preferred ranks senior to our common stock, and on parity with the Series C Preferred.
Dividends. Holders of the Series B Preferred are entitled to receive cumulative dividends at the rate per share of 5% per annum, which dividends are currently payable in either cash or shares of common stock.
Voting Rights. Subject to certain restrictions in the Series B Certificate of Designation, the holders of the Series B Preferred are entitled to vote alongside holder of common stock, on an as-converted basis, on all matters as to which the approval of the stockholders may be required.
Liquidation. Upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “Liquidation”), the holders of Series B Preferred are entitled to receive out of the Company’s assets, whether capital or surplus, an amount equal to the stated value of the Series B Preferred ($4 per share), plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any junior securities, including holders of our common stock. If the assets of the Company are insufficient to pay, in full, such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the holders of the Series B Preferred shall be ratably distributed among the holders in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full.
Conversion. Each share of Series B Preferred is convertible, at the option of the holder, into that number of shares of common stock equal to the stated value thereof, divided by $0.25 per share (the "Series B Conversion Shares"). The Company has the option to require the conversion of the Series B Preferred into Series B Conversion Shares in the event the daily trading volume of the Company's common stock, divided by the closing price, equals at least $250,000 for 20 consecutive trading days and the average closing price of the Company's common stock is at least $0.62 per share for 10 consecutive trading days.
Certain Price and Share Adjustments.
a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Company (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions payable in shares of common stock on shares of common stock or any other common stock equivalents; (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of common stock into a larger number of shares; (iii) combines (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller number of shares; or (iv) issues, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the common stock, any shares of capital stock of the Company, then the conversion price shall be adjusted accordingly.
b) Merger or Reorganization. If the Company is involved in any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger in which the common stock is converted into or exchanged for securities, cash or other property than each shares of Series B Preferred shall be convertible into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that a holder of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of one share of Series B Preferred prior to any such merger or reorganization would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such transaction.
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
In February 2015, the Certificate of Designation, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series C Certificate of Designation”) was first filed with the Nevada Secretary of State, and later amended and restated in March 2015, August 2015 and amended in November 2015, in order to designate 150,000 shares of our preferred stock as Series C Preferred. The following summarizes the current rights and preferences of the Series C Preferred:
Rank. The Series C Preferred ranks senior to our common stock, and on parity with the Series B Preferred.
Voting Rights. The holders of the Series C Preferred are entitled to vote alongside holder of common stock, on an as-converted basis, on all matters as to which the approval of the stockholders may be required.
Liquidation. Upon any Liquidation, the holders of Series C Preferred are entitled to receive out of the Company’s assets, whether capital or surplus, an amount equal to the stated value of the Series C Preferred ($100 per share), plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any junior securities, including the common stock. If the Company’s assets are insufficient to pay, in full, such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the holders of the Series C Preferred shall be ratably distributed among the holders in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full.
Conversion. Each share of Series C Preferred is convertible, at the option of the holder, into that number of shares of common stock equal to the stated value thereof, divided by $0.15 per share (the “Series C Conversion Shares”). The Company has the option to require the conversion of the Series C Preferred into Series C Conversion Shares in the event the average closing price of the Company's common stock is at least $0.62 per share for 10 consecutive trading days.
Certain Price and Share Adjustments.
a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Company (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions payable in shares of common stock on shares of common stock or any other Common Stock equivalents; (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of common stock into a larger number of shares; (iii) combines (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller number of shares; or (iv) issues, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the common stock, any shares of capital stock of the Company, then the conversion price shall be adjusted accordingly.
b) Merger or Reorganization. If the Company is involved in any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger in which the common stock is converted into or exchanged for securities, cash or other property than each shares of Series C Preferred shall be convertible into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that a holder of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of one share of Series C Preferred prior to any such merger or reorganization would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such transaction.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
This prospectus relates to the registration of a total of 44,863,395 shares of common stock by the Company, on behalf of the Selling Stockholders listed on page 42 of this prospectus (the “Registrable Securities”). Below is a description of the transactions by which the Company issued the Registrable Securities to the Selling Stockholders.
August 2015 Series C Offering
On August 13, 2015 (the “Initial Investment Date”), Red Beard Holdings, LLC (“Red Beard”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Red Beard agreed to purchase up to 17,648 shares of Series C Preferred for $113.33 per share (the “Shares”) over the course of three separate closings (the “Series C Offering”). The Company issued an aggregate total of 7,942 Shares on the Initial Investment Date, and 6,177 Shares on August 28, 2015 and the remaining 3,529 Shares on September 15, 2015. As additional consideration for the purchase of Shares in the Series C Offering, Red Beard received five-year warrants, originally exercisable for $0.17 per share (the “Exercise Price”), to purchase that number of shares of the Company's common stock equal to 35% of that number of shares of common stock determined by dividing (i) the Stated Value (as such term is defined in the Series C Amendment) of the Shares by (ii) the Exercise Price (the “Warrant Shares”).
In addition to the Purchase Agreement, the Company and Red Beard entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to register the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Shares, under the Securities Act on a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “RegistrationStatement”) on or before February 13, 2016.
On October 16, 2015, the Company and Red Beard executed an amendment to the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement Amendment”). Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement Amendment, the Company sold to Red Beard an additional 8,823 Shares for gross proceeds of approximately $1.0 million. As additional consideration for the purchase of the Shares, Red Beard received a Warrant to purchase approximately 1.81 million shares of the Company’s common stock.
The Company, Red Beard and Vincent C. Smith also entered into an amendment to the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Amendment”), in order to include within the definition of “Registrable Securities”: (i) the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Shares and upon exercise of the Warrant issued in connection with the Purchase Agreement Amendment, and (ii) the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Personal Guaranty Warrant, as defined below.
Niagara Agreement and Personal Guaranty
On October 9, 2015, our wholly owned subsidiary, True Drinks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“True Drinks”), entered into a bottling agreement (the “Niagara Agreement”) with Niagara Bottling, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Niagara”), pursuant to which Niagara will become the exclusive manufacturer of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water for the next five years.
The Niagara Agreement requires the Company to deliver to Niagara its minimum volume requirements for the upcoming 12-month period on or before February 1st of each year (the “Annual Commitment”), which Annual Commitment may not be less than 3.2 million Cases (defined in the Niagara Agreement as a pack of 24 bottles of AquaBall(TM) Naturally Flavored Water) per purchase order. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Niagara Agreement, the Company will pay to Niagara $6.35 per Case manufactured, for an annual financial liability of approximately $20.3 million per year.
Mr. Vincent C. Smith, the Company’s largest shareholder, executed a personal guaranty of True Drinks’ obligations under the Niagara Agreement (the “Personal Guaranty”). As consideration for Mr. Smith’s execution of the Personal Guaranty, the Company issued to Mr. Smith a five-year warrant (the “Personal GuarantyWarrant”), to purchase 17.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock for $0.188 per share.
As noted above, on October 16, 2015, the Company agreed to include the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Personal Guaranty Warrant within the definition of “Registrable Securities” in the Registration Rights Amendment.
Issuance of Novelty Warrant
In October 2015, the Company engaged Novelty Capital Group LLC (“Novelty”) to provide the Company with certain advisory services related to investor relations. As consideration, the Company issued to Novelty a warrant (the “Novelty Warrant”) to purchase up to 884,211 shares of common stock for $0.19 per share, subject to a monthly vesting schedule over a 12-month period, provided the Company continued to engage Novelty. The Novelty Warrant also provided Novelty with piggyback registration rights.
On February 14, 2016, the Company terminated its engagement of Novelty. As of that date, a total of 294,737 shares had vested under the Novelty Warrant.
November Series C Offering and Adjustment of Exercise Price of the Warrants and Personal Guaranty Warrant
On November 25, 2015, the Company and Red Beard entered into a securities purchase agreement, pursuant to which Red Beard agreed to purchase up to 30,000 shares of Series C Preferred for $100 per share over the course of three separate closings between November 2015 and January 2016 (the “November Purchase Agreement”). As additional consideration for the purchase of the shares of Series C Preferred, Red Beard received five-year warrants, exercisable for $0.15 per share, to purchase that number of shares of the Company's common stock equal to 35% of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Series C Preferred purchased.
Due to certain adjustment provisions in the Warrants and the Personal Guaranty Warrant, the issuance of the warrants pursuant to the November Purchase Agreement caused a decrease in the exercise price of the Warrants issued during private placement transactions between August 2015 and October 2015 and the Personal Guaranty Warrant to $0.15 per share. However, the exercise price of the Novelty Warrant remained unchanged.
On January 20, 2016, the Company and holders (the “Holders”) of Secured Notes in the principal amount of $500,000 entered into Note Exchange Agreements pursuant to which the Holders agreed to convert the outstanding principal balance of their Secured Notes into an aggregate total of 4,413 shares of Series C Preferred and Warrants to purchase up to an agate total of 1,029,701 shares of common stock for $0.17 per share. Each Note Exchange Agreement provided piggyback registration rights to the Holders for the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Series C Preferred and upon exercise of the Warrants.
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Amendment, the Note Exchange Agreement and the Novelty Warrant, the Company has agreed to register the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act. Accordingly, we filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1, of which this prospectus forms a part, with respect to the resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time. In addition, we agreed in the Registration Rights Agreement to use our best efforts to keep the registration statement effective until the Registrable Securities are sold or may be sold without registration or prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act, subject to certain restrictions.
Selling Stockholders Table
We filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the SEC, of which this prospectus forms a part, with respect to the resale of the Registerable Securities from time to time under Rule 415 of the Securities Act. The Registerable Securities were registered to permit secondary public trading thereof. Subject to the restrictions described in this prospectus, the Selling Stockholders may offer the Registerable Securities for resale from time to time. In addition, subject to the restrictions described in this prospectus, the Selling Stockholders may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or a portion of any Registerable Securities held in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. See “Plan of Distribution” below for more information.
The table below presents information as of February 12, 2016, regarding the Selling Stockholders and the Registerable Securities the Selling Stockholders (and their donees, pledgees, assignees, transferees and other successors in interest) may offer and sell from time to time under this prospectus. More specifically, the following table sets forth as to the Selling Stockholders:
●
|
the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by each Selling Stockholders prior to the offering for resale of any of the shares of our common stock being registered by the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;
|
●
|
the number of shares of our common stock that may be offered for resale for the Selling Stockholders’ account under this prospectus; and
|
●
|
the number and percent of shares of our common stock to be held by the Selling Stockholders after the offering of the resale securities, assuming all of the resale shares of common stock are sold by the Selling Stockholders and that the Selling Stockholders do not acquire any other shares of our common stock prior to their assumed sale of all of the resale shares.
|
None of the Selling Stockholders has held a position as an officer or director of the company, nor has any Selling Stockholder had any material relationship of any kind with us or any of our affiliates. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table, the Selling Stockholders possess sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown, and no Selling Stockholder is a broker-dealer or an affiliate of a broker-dealer.
The following table was prepared based on information supplied to us by the Selling Stockholder, as well as certain information known to us as of the date of this prospectus. Except as indicated below, the share amounts under the columns “Shares Beneficially Owned Before the Offering” and “Maximum Number of Shares Offered” consist of the Registrable Securities, and the share amounts under the columns “Shares Beneficially Owned after the Offering” assume all of the offered shares are sold pursuant to this prospectus.
|
|
Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior
to Offering*
|
|
|
Maximum Number of Shares Being Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus
|
|
|
Shares Beneficially Owned
After Offering*
|
|
Name of Selling Security Holder (1)
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Red Beard Holdings, LLC (2)
|
|
|
50,097,246 |
|
|
|
32.02 |
% |
|
|
23,097,245 |
|
|
|
27,000,001 |
|
|
|
20.25 |
% |
Vincent C. Smith (3)(4)
|
|
|
130,378,020 |
|
|
|
68.77 |
% |
|
|
17,500,000 |
|
|
|
89,780,775 |
|
|
|
60.26 |
% |
Christopher Turoci (5)
|
|
|
9,524,033 |
|
|
|
8.33 |
% |
|
|
2,382,981 |
|
|
|
7,141,052 |
|
|
|
6.38 |
% |
Nadeem Ahmed (6)
|
|
|
2,532,533 |
|
|
|
2.38 |
% |
|
|
1,588,432 |
|
|
|
944,101 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Novelty Capital Group LLC (7)
|
|
|
294,737 |
|
|
|
** |
|
|
|
294,737 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
** |
|
*
|
Beneficial ownership assumes the exercise of all derivative securities held by the Selling Stockholder.
|
**
|
Less than 1%.
|
(1)
|
Information concerning other Selling Stockholders will be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements from time to time, if required.
|
(2)
|
See table titled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” on p. 35 of this prospectus for information regarding securities held by Red Beard Holdings, LLC (“Red Beard”) prior to this offering.
Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus consist of 17,647,333 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 26,471 shares of Series C Preferred and 5,449,912 shares issuable upon exercise of Warrants issued to Red Beard pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and Purchase Agreement Amendment. Vincent C Smith, Manager of Red Beard, has voting and dispositive power over these shares.
|
(3)
|
See table titled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” on p. 35 of this prospectus for information regarding securities held by Mr. Smith held prior to this offering.
Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus consist of 17,500,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Personal Guaranty Warrant.
|
(4)
|
Due to Mr. Smith’s role as Manager of Red Beard, shares beneficially owned prior to, and after this offering include shares held by Red Beard.
|
(5)
|
See table titled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” on p. 35 of this prospectus for information regarding securities held by Mr. Turoci held prior to this offering.
Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus include 1,765,333 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 2,648 shares of Series C Preferred and 617,648 shares issuable upon exercise of Warrants issued to Mr. Turoci in connection with the Note Exchange.
|
(6)
|
Shares beneficially owned prior to this offering include 699,334 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 1,049 shares of Series B Preferred and 244,767 shares issuable upon exercise of certain warrants issued to Mr. Ahmed.
Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus include 1,176,667 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 1,765 shares of Series C Preferred and 411,765 shares issuable upon exercise of Warrants issued to Mr. Ahmed in connection with the Note Exchange.
|
(7)
|
Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus consist of 294,737 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Novelty Warrant.
Jonathon Skeels, Managing Member of Novelty, has voting and dispositive power over these shares.
|
Each Selling Stockholder and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock covered hereby on the OTC Pink Marketplace or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:
·
|
on any national securities exchange, market or quotation service on which our common stock may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
|
·
|
in transactions other than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;
|
·
|
in ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
|
·
|
in block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
|
·
|
in purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
|
·
|
in an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
|
·
|
in privately negotiated transactions;
|
·
|
in put or call option transactions;
|
·
|
in transactions involving short sales through broker-dealers;
|
·
|
in transactions wherein the Selling Stockholder sells securities short themselves and delivers the securities to close out short positions;
|
·
|
through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
|
·
|
in transactions that may involve crosses or block transactions;
|
·
|
in transactions where broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of securities at a stipulated price per security;
|
·
|
a combination of any such methods of sale; or
|
·
|
in any other method permitted by applicable law.
|
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with Rule 2440 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with IM-2440 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
In connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares of the common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute their shares of common stock.
The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including Rule 172 thereunder. The Selling Stockholders have advised us that there is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling Stockholders.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any other rule of similar effect (assuming that the shares were at no time held by any affiliate of ours, and all warrants are exercised by “cashless exercise” as provided in each of the warrants) or (ii) all of the shares have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale shares of common stock covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014, and for the year then ended included in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been audited by Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, which report will be included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting in giving said reports.
The validity of our common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Disclosure Law Group, San Diego, California.
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
No expert or counsel named in this prospectus as having prepared or certified any part of this prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the common stock was employed for such purpose on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with this offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in us or any of our subsidiaries, nor was any such person connected with us as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC. This prospectus, which forms a part of that registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the shares of our common stock offered hereby, please refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to herein are not necessarily complete and, where the contract or other document is an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement is qualified in all respects by the provisions of such exhibit, to which reference is hereby made. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. The registration statement can also be reviewed by accessing the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. We are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements or information statements, and other information with the SEC. These reports can also be reviewed by accessing the SEC’s website.
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or as part of the registration statement filed on Form S-1 of which this prospective is a part, as such registration statement is amended and in effect with the SEC. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of those documents.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements